Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) feeding on grass at bird sanctuary Bourton on the water, England, UK
Tortoises are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines. Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like other members of the suborder Cryptodira, they retract their necks and heads directly backward into the shell to protect them. Tortoises can vary in size with some species, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise, growing to more than metres in length, whereas others like the Speckled cape tortoise have shells that measure only centimetres long. Several lineages of tortoises have independently evolved very large body sizes in excess of 100 kg, including the Galapagos giant tortoise and the Aldabra giant tortoise. They are usually diurnal animals with tendencies to be crepuscular depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals. Tortoises are the longest-living land animals in the world, although the longest-living species of tortoise is a matter of debate. Galápagos tortoises are noted to live over 150 years, but an Aldabra giant tortoise named Adwaita may have lived an estimated 255 years. In general, most tortoise species can live 80–150 years. Tortoises are placid and slow-moving, with an average walking speed of – km/h.
Size: 5400px × 3600px
Location: Bourton on the water, England, UK
Photo credit: © DV Wildlife / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: aldabra, aldabrachelys, bird, bourton, giant, gigantea, sanctuary, testudinidae, testudinidines, tortoise, tortue, turtle, water, wildlife
