Galapagos Tortoise Skull Replica

Description

Galapagos Tortoise Skull Replica measures 14.2 inches. Galapagos Tortoise skull replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. Geochelone elephantopus is the scientific name. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home decor skull, or office decor 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.

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