Galapagos tortoise

Galapagos giant tortoise (scientific name: Chelonoidis 'galapagoensis') is the largest land tortoise in the tortoise family, with a total of 14 species. The carapace is raised high, with symmetric large scales on the top of the head. The skull is relatively short, with the scales not connecting to the top bone. The frontal bone may not enter the eye socket, and the postorbital bone is degenerated or almost disappeared. The posterior part of the parietal bone is usually closed, completely enclosing the stapes. The maxilla bone almost connects to the square jib bone, and the maxilla has or does not have a central ridge on the chewing surface. The dorsal and ventral shells are firmly connected through the shell bridge. The limbs are stout and cylindrical. The fingers and toes have no more than 2 segments, with claws and no webbing. There are no scent glands.

In the 16th century, it is believed that there were 250,000 Galapagos tortoises living freely on the Galapagos Islands. However, in the three centuries after the discovery of these beautiful islands, at least 100,000 tortoises were killed. It is believed that only 30,000 tortoises survived until after the 1970s...

In 1535, the first Bishop of Panama, Thomas de Berlanga, deviated from his route while sailing to Peru and accidentally discovered the Galapagos Islands. He reported his discovery to the Spanish King Charles V. He vividly described the giant tortoises and various interesting birds on these islands. However, at that time, Bishop Thomas did not give a name to these islands.

Of course, it is very likely that the indigenous people of South America were already familiar with these islands long before 1535, but there was no clear historical documentation left behind. The Galapagos Islands were first marked on world maps in 1570, and by then, this paradise had been designated as "islands".

Lovers of climbing and pet care are recommended to raise Galapagos giant tortoises. They are easy to raise, and tortoises can accept various types of food. Their diet should mainly consist of high-fiber, high-calcium, low-phosphorus, low-protein, and low-moisture plants.

1. Gonorrhea

At the beginning of the onset, there is a reddish shadow in the excretory orifice, which is generally difficult to see at the initial stage. When touching the hind legs and tail with hands, the response is slow. When severe, it cannot crawl and the excretory orifice is loose and odorous.

2. Liver disease

During the outbreak, the spirit is poor and the movement is sluggish. When severe, the head droops and the eyes are sleepy. The liver is severely damaged and it is considered the number one killer. Immediate and prompt treatment is needed.

3. Respiratory tract infection

In the early stage, coughing occurs, and lumps of white mucus are secreted from the turtle's mouth. The feces smell foul, and it may develop into pneumonia when the temperature is high.

4. Limping

There are two types: one is non-swelling, and the other is an abscess that can cause decaying bones, paralysis, and death.

5. Respiratory tract infection pneumonia

When the turtle opens its mouth, there are small bubbles, obstructed breathing, poor spirit, significantly reduced appetite, and slow response. In the later stage, the neck contracts when opening the mouth, and there is mucus in the nostrils.

6. Bidirectional disease and closed eyes

It usually occurs in conjunction with other diseases such as pneumonia, gonorrhea, and liver disease. The eye sockets are dry, and the closed eyes in the late stage have a high mortality rate.

7. Edema

Generalized edema, upper limbs and upper half of the limbs swollen, severe cases cannot crawl.

8. Difficult delivery

At the beginning of the onset, the excretory orifice frequently contracts. When severe, it may bleed and cause genital infection. In the later stage, the reproductive organs will be exposed. Prevention is better than treatment.

9. Gastroenteritis

Dull spirit, severe cases do not eat or move, foul-smelling feces, and mucus in the excretory orifice for a long time.

10. Conjunctivitis

At the initial stage, a gray-white ring appears in the middle of the eyeball, and the front limbs are often used to rub the eye area. When severe, the center of the fish's eyeball sinks, and the eye sockets become dry. If not treated in time, it can lead to insomnia.

11. Floating disease

Due to long-term malnutrition, the excretory orifice is infected by bacteria. When severe, the hind limbs are weak, unable to swim in water, weak, and float on the water surface, and finally swell and drown in the water.

12. Deformity

Caused by breeding techniques, it is mainly found in juvenile turtles. The turtle body is fat, with crooked legs, and the hind limbs are weak and limp when crawling. The carapace and plastron are both soft, with a slanted growth line in the middle of the plastron, and the shell grows irregularly. In severe cases, it develops into deformities.

13. Decaying shell disease

This disease is more common in adult turtles. At the initial stage, it is localized, and when pressed by hand, a small amount of pus flows out from the turtle shells. This disease is latent and if not treated in time, it can spread locally.

14. Decaying neck disease

It is mostly caused by bites during mating, and it is more common in female turtles. There are injuries on both sides of the neck, which then ulcerate. It needs to be treated seriously.

15. Necrotic lesions

If there are existing injuries on the turtle's body and dead flesh is not removed, new flesh will grow around the affected area, covering the dead flesh and forming necrotic lesions, which can affect the turtle's health.

16. Cutaneous mycosis

This disease is latent. At the beginning, gray-white mold spots appear on the eyelids, nostrils, skin, and toes. When severe, red swelling appears on the chin.

17. External injuries

There are bite marks, redness, and swelling on the turtle's legs, tail, skin, and neck. When severe, abscesses form. It is caused by bacterial infections due to self-fighting and skin abrasions that were not found or thought to be insignificant and not treated in time, resulting in serious consequences.

The Galapagos giant tortoise is huge in size, like an ancient dinosaur that has traveled from the Jurassic period. If you observe its head carefully, you will find that it does not have pointed teeth, indicating that it is a herbivorous creature.

The Galapagos giant tortoise is a cold-blooded animal, so it absorbs the sun's heat by basking in the sun for 1-2 hours, and they actively forage after daybreak. They sleep for 8-9 hours a day, mostly resting in the early morning or evening. At the same time, their walking speed is 0.3 kilometers (0.2 miles) per hour. On larger, more humid, and lower-lying islands, there will be seasonal migrations between turtles. In the dry season, they will migrate to higher-altitude (610 meters) grassland areas. The same route has appeared for a long time, creating a well-walkable path, and the shrubs passed by turtles are called "turtle highways".

The Galapagos giant tortoise is herbivorous, and its food includes cactus, grass, leaves, moss, and berries. A turtle eats an average of 32-36 kilograms of food per day, but because of the low efficiency of the digestive system, the nutrition intake is also relatively low. Land turtles obtain most of their water from the dew and juice of plants, so they can go without drinking water for a long time. They can also endure up to 18 months without eating or drinking water. When they are thirsty, they can drink a large amount of water quickly and store it in their bladder and heart, so they don't need to drink water for a long time. On the dry islands, tortoises will lick the dew on the boulders in the early morning, and many rocks have formed depressions due to repeated generations of this behavior.