This tortoise is a subspecies of Chelonoidis niger, and is sometimes considered a distinct species.[3]
Description
Male tortoises grow to about 120 cm and females to about 92 cm in length and may have either domed or flattened carapaces.[4]
Behaviour
Feeding
The tortoises graze on shrubs and low-growing herbaceous vegetation, consuming herbs, grass, cacti, lichens, and fruit.[4]
Breeding
Male tortoises compete with each other by extending their necks, gaping, biting and shell-bumping. They produce loud guttural noises while mating. Females lay clutches of usually 6–11 (occasionally up to 17) eggs. Juvenile tortoises tend to remain in the warmer, lowland, part of the subspecies' range for the first 10–15 years of their lives.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The tortoise's range is limited to an area of about 800 km2 on the slopes of the Sierra Negravolcano, from near sea-level to an altitude of around 1,000 m, at the southern end of Isabela Island. There it inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests, dry grassland, introduced vegetation and agricultural land. The population is estimated to comprise some 400–700 mature individuals, a decline of 99% from an estimated 71,000 individuals prior to human contact with the islands.[4]
Conservation
The subspecies is considered to be Critically Endangered. The population was historically overexploited for food and oil by sailors and settlers, and some poaching continues. Other threats include predation of eggs and hatchlings, as well as habitat degradation, by introduced animals, including dogs, rodents, pigs, goats and fire ants. Volcanic eruptions also threaten the tortoises and their habitat.[4]
References
^Cayot, L.J., Gibbs, J.P., Tapia, W. & Caccone, A. (2018). "Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Chelonoidis guntheri (BAUR, 1889)". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
^ abcdeArteaga, A; Bustamante, L; Vieira, J; Guayasamin, JM (2020). Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Quito: Universidad Tecnológica Indoamereica.
January 13, 2023
chelonoidis, niger, guentheri, commonly, known, sierra, negra, giant, tortoise, günther, giant, tortoise, subspecies, galápagos, tortoise, endemic, galápagos, archipelago, eastern, pacific, ocean, specific, epithet, guentheri, honours, zoologist, albert, günth. Chelonoidis niger guentheri commonly known as the Sierra Negra giant tortoise or Gunther s giant tortoise is a subspecies of Galapagos tortoise endemic to the Galapagos archipelago in the eastern Pacific Ocean The specific epithet guentheri honours zoologist Albert Gunther Sierra Negra giant tortoiseChelonoidis guentheriConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder CryptodiraSuperfamily TestudinoideaFamily TestudinidaeGenus ChelonoidisSpecies C nigerSubspecies C n guentheriTrinomial nameChelonoidis niger guentheri Baur 1889 SynonymsTestudo guntheri Baur 1889 Testudo wallacei Rothschild 1902 Geochelone elephantopus guntheri Pritchard 1967 Geochelone nigra guntheri Iverson 1992 Geochelone guntheri Cisneros Heredia 2006 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Behaviour 3 1 Feeding 3 2 Breeding 4 Distribution and habitat 5 Conservation 6 ReferencesTaxonomy EditThis tortoise is a subspecies of Chelonoidis niger and is sometimes considered a distinct species 3 Description EditMale tortoises grow to about 120 cm and females to about 92 cm in length and may have either domed or flattened carapaces 4 Behaviour EditFeeding Edit The tortoises graze on shrubs and low growing herbaceous vegetation consuming herbs grass cacti lichens and fruit 4 Breeding Edit Male tortoises compete with each other by extending their necks gaping biting and shell bumping They produce loud guttural noises while mating Females lay clutches of usually 6 11 occasionally up to 17 eggs Juvenile tortoises tend to remain in the warmer lowland part of the subspecies range for the first 10 15 years of their lives 4 Distribution and habitat EditThe tortoise s range is limited to an area of about 800 km2 on the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano from near sea level to an altitude of around 1 000 m at the southern end of Isabela Island There it inhabits deciduous and evergreen forests dry grassland introduced vegetation and agricultural land The population is estimated to comprise some 400 700 mature individuals a decline of 99 from an estimated 71 000 individuals prior to human contact with the islands 4 Conservation EditThe subspecies is considered to be Critically Endangered The population was historically overexploited for food and oil by sailors and settlers and some poaching continues Other threats include predation of eggs and hatchlings as well as habitat degradation by introduced animals including dogs rodents pigs goats and fire ants Volcanic eruptions also threaten the tortoises and their habitat 4 References Edit Cayot L J Gibbs J P Tapia W amp Caccone A 2018 Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 Retrieved 26 June 2021 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Chelonoidis guntheri BAUR 1889 Reptile Database Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann Retrieved 26 June 2021 a b c d e Arteaga A Bustamante L Vieira J Guayasamin JM 2020 Reptiles of Ecuador Life in the middle of the world Quito Universidad Tecnologica Indoamereica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chelonoidis niger guentheri amp oldid 1079069687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
