Aldabra Tortoise

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Description

The Aldabra tortoise is one of the largest land tortoises in the world. Their shell is brown or tan in color and has a high-domed shape. They have stocky, heavily scaled legs to support their large body. Their neck is long in order to help them reach a variety of woody plants.

Range & Habitat

This tortoise species can be found inhabiting grasslands and swamps on the islands of the Aldabra atoll, which is northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

At the Virginia Zoo, you can find the Aldabra tortoises on the Africa Okavango Delta Trail.

Behavior

Aldabra tortoises are active during the day, but tend to avoid the heat of midday by finding shelter under trees or cooling off in mud holes.

Egg production varies depending on the environment, females can have up to 3 clutches per year. When hatched, the babies are only about 3 inches long. An Aldabra tortoise then won’t reach full maturity until 20-30 years of age.

Diet

These tortoises are omnivores, eating mostly a wide variety of plant material, including grasses, plants, and leaves. Occasionally they will eat live animals.

Conservation

Major threats to the Aldabra tortoise population include, the destruction of their habitat, introduction of predators such as rats and cats, and competitors such as goats, and hunting by humans for food.