Galápagos Tortoise Skull Replica

Description

Galápagos tortoise skull replica measures 6.0 x 3.5 x 2.25 inches. The Chelonoidis niger skull is a museum quality polyurethane cast of a California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The Galápagos giant tortoise occupies the dry lowlands and misty highlands of the Galápagos Islands. It primarily inhabits the Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Española, Santiago, Pinzón, and Fernandina.

This tortoise ranks as one of the heaviest surviving reptiles on earth. These giant tortoises live for a very long time. They can easily live for one hundred years.

They carry a large bony shell of a dull brown or gray color. Their ribs fuse directly to the shell to make a hard shield. Small green lichens can grow on top of their shells because they move so slowly.

A tortoise pulls its head, neck, and front arms into its shell to hide from danger. They walk on large, stumpy legs covered in dry, hard scales. The front feet have five claws, while the back feet have four claws.

People hunt them for meat, shells, and oil, which caused their numbers to drop fast. Farmers also cleared the wild land.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Testudines
• Suborder: Cryptodira
• Superfamily: Testudinoidea
• Family: Testudinidae
• Genus: Chelonoidis
• Species: C. niger
• Binomial name: Chelonoidis niger
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

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