All items sold on this website are polyurethane resin replicas, made in USA. No real or natural bone is available on this site.
Galapagos Tortoise Skull Replica
$151.00
The Galápagos Tortoise or Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis. It is the largest living species of tortoise, with some weighing up to 919 lb. They are also the largest extant terrestrial ectotherms.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Galapagos Tortoise Skull Replica measures 6 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches. Galapagos Tortoise skull replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.
Galapagos tortoise or Geochelone elephantopus is known to be one of the heaviest surviving reptile and the largest species existing on earth. The term Galapagos has been derived from the Spanish word galapago, meaning tortoise.
Giant tortoises or Geochelone elephantopus are known to live for the longest span among all vertebrates with their average life span being 100 years.
The Galapagos tortoises or Geochelone elephantopus have a large bony shell of a dull brown or grey color. The plates of the shell are fused with the ribs in a rigid protective structure that is integral to the skeleton. Lichens can grow on the shells of these slow-moving animals.
Tortoises keep a characteristic scute pattern on their shells throughout life, though the annual growth bands are not useful for determining age because the outer layers are worn off with time.
A tortoise can withdraw its head, neck, and fore limbs into its shell for protection. The legs are large and stumpy, with dry, scaly skin and hard scales. The front legs have five claws, the back legs four.
Galapagos Tortoise or Geochelone elephantopus numbers declined from over 250,000 in the 16th century to a low of around 3,000 in the 1970’s. This decline was caused by over exploitation of the species for meat and oil, habitat clearance for agriculture, and introduction of non-native animals to the islands, such as rats, goats, and pigs.
The extinction of most Galapagos Tortoise or Geochelone elephantopus lineages is thought to have also been caused by predation by humans or human ancestors, as the tortoises themselves have no natural predators.
Galapagos Tortoise Facts:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Chelonoidis
Species: C. n. complex
Binomial name: Chelonoidis nigra
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Shop More Museum Quality Tortoise Skulls in Tortoise Skull Store
Additional information
| Weight | 2 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6 × 3.5 × 2 in |
| World Turtle Day - May 23rd | World Turtle Day is celebrated annually on May 23rd to raise awareness about the importance of protecting turtles and tortoises. The day was established in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue. |
