Aldabra Giant Tortoise Skull Replica
$166.00
Historically, giant tortoises were found on many of the western Indian Ocean islands, as well as Madagascar, and the fossil record indicates giant tortoises once occurred on every continent and many islands with the exception of Australia and Antarctica.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Aldabra giant tortoise skull replica measures 4.8 inches. Aldabra giant tortoise skull is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA.
Aldabra giant tortoises are found on the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, and they are one of the largest tortoises in the world.
Aldabra giant tortoises live in mangrove swamps and coastal dune areas to grasslands and scrub forests.
Primarily herbivores, they eat grasses, leaves, and woody plant stems. They occasionally indulge in small invertebrates and carrion, even eating the bodies of other dead tortoises.
In captivity, Aldabra giant tortoises are known to consume fruits such as apples and bananas, as well as compressed vegetable pellets. Little fresh water is available for drinking in the tortoises’ natural habitat, so they obtain most of their moisture from their food.
Those living in an environment with food available higher above the ground have more flattened top shells with the front raised to allow the neck to extend upward freely.
They are found both individually and in herds, which tend to gather mostly on open grasslands. They are most active in the mornings, when they spend time browsing for food. They dig burrows or rest in swamps to keep cool during the heat of the day.
As the largest animal in its environment, the Aldabra giant tortoise performs a role similar to that of the elephant. Their vigorous search for food fells trees and creates pathways used by other animals.
Scientific classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Testudines
- Suborder: Cryptodira
- Superfamily: Testudinoidea
- Family: Testudinidae
- Genus: Aldabrachelys
- Species: A. gigantea
- Binomial name: Aldabrachelys gigantea (Schweigger, 1812)
- Conservatoin status: Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)
Related reptiles:
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Additional information
| Weight | 6.0 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.8 × 3.1 × 2.7 in |
| World Turtle Day - May 23rd | World Turtle Day is an annual observance held every May 23rd. It began in 2000 and is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue. The day was created as a yearly observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats, as well as to encourage human action to help them survive and thrive. |
