Please click on any of the above topics, or look in the dropdown sections for more information on Aldabra, and other tortoises.

 

The Different Breeds of Tortoise In The World

 

   Even though Galapagos Giant Tortoises have 12 subspecies and Aldabra Giant Tortoises have three subspecies, as a breed they only cover the top 2 places in the top 10 size list.

 

1. Galapagos Giant Tortoises (needs A10)

  1. Western Santa Cruz Giant Galapagos Tortoise / Indifatigable Island Tortoise
    Population 3,400 individuals.
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered critically endangered
  2. Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Galapagos Tortoise 
    Population 250 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered critically endangered
  3. Wolf Volcano Giant Galapagos Tortoise / Cape Berkeley Giant Tortoise
    Population of 7,000-8,000 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as vulnerable. Currently, there are 2000 marked adults. In the past, the population size is estimated at roughly 25,000 adults.
  4. Espanola Giant Galapagos Tortoise/ Hood Island Tortoise
    Population 100-200 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered. The population is currently increasing.
  5. Pinzon Giant Tortoise/ Duncan Island Tortosie
    Population 300 – 400 individuals.
    Classified in the IUCN red list as Vulnerable, with the population increasing.
  6. Volcan Darwin Giant Tortoise/ Tagus Cove Giant Tortoise
    Population 800 individuals.
    Classified in the IUCN red list as Endangered
  7. Santiago Giant Galapagos Tortoise/ James Island Tortoise
    Population 500-1700 individuals.
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered.
  8. Fernandina Giant Tortoise / Narborough Island Tortoise
    Population 0-5 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered.
  9. San Cristobal Giant Tortoise/ Chatham Island Tortoise
    Population 2,950 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as endangered.
  10. Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise/ Southern Isabela Giant Tortoise/ Iguana Cove Tortoise
    Population 2,600 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as Vulnerable considered endangered.
  11. Volcan Alcedo Giant Tortoise
    Population 6,320 individuals.
    Classified in the IUCN red list as Vulnerable
  12. Sierra Negra Giant Galapagos Tortoise/ Gunthers Giant Tortoise
    Population 400-700 individuals
    Classified in the IUCN red list as critically endangered.

 

2. Aldabra Giant Tortoises

  1. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise is alive and well on Aldabra Atoll, and being used to repopulate other local islands.
  2. The Arnold’s Giant tortoise / Seychelles Saddleback Tortoise is found on Mahe Island.
  3. The Seychelles Giant Tortoise / Hololissa Tortoise is found on the Islands of Silhouette, Round, Praslin, Mahe, Fregate, Cousine and Cerf.

 

The remaining 8 of the top 10 species according to size.

 

  1. African Spurred / Sulcata Tortoise
  2. Leopard Tortoise
  3. Burmese Mountain Tortoise
  4. Ploughshare Tortoise
  5. Radiated Tortoise (needs A10)
  6. Bolson Tortoise (needs A10)
  7. Marginated Tortoise (needs A10)
  8. Gopher Tortoise

 

Other breeds of tortoise-not in size order:

 

  1. Hermanns Tortoise (needs A10)
  2. Greek Spur thighed Tortoise (needs A10)
  3. Russian Tortoise/ Horsefield Tortoise
  4. Redfoot Tortoise
  5. Egyptian Tortoise / Kleinmann Tortoise (needs A10)
  6. Indian Star Tortoise
  7. Pancake Tortoise (needs A10)
  8. Texas Tortoise
  9. Yellow Footed Tortoise
  10. Madagascan Spider Tortoise (needs A10)
  11. Burmese Star Tortoise
  12. Elongated Tortoise
  13. Chaco Tortoise
  14. Forstens Tortoise
  15. Argentine Tortoise
  16. Flat Tailed Tortoise / Madagascar Flat-Shelled Tortoise (needs A10)
  17. Spider Tortoise
  18. Geometric Tortoise (needs A10)
  19. Desert Tortoise
  20. American Desert Tortoise
  21. Angonoka Tortoise (needs A10)
  22. Angulate Tortoise
  23. Karoo Padloper (Boulenders Cape Tortoise)
  24. Nama Dwarf Tortoise (Bergers Cape Tortoise) (needs A10)
  25. Sonoran Desert Tortoise
  26. Common Padloper (Parrot Beaked Tortoise)
  27. Greater Padloper
  28. Travancore Tortoise
  29. Hingeback Tortoise
  30. Asian Forest Tortoise
  31. Impressed Tortoise
  32. Serrated Tortoise
  33. Tent Tortoise.
  34. Negev Tortoise (needs A10)
  35. Speckled Cape Tortoise (smallest tortoise breed)

 

    If we have missed any out please let us know.

     

     

     

     

    Joke!

     A pet tortoise got mugged by 3 snails.

    When he was interviewed by the police, and asked what happened?

    He said ' I don't know, it happened so fast'