Galápagos tortoise
Amazing fact
A Galápagos tortoise’s shell has a honeycomb-like structure with small air chambers.
San Diego Zoo
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
A Galápagos tortoise’s shell has a honeycomb-like structure with small air chambers.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Galápagos tortoise
- Scientific name
- Chelonoidis niger
- Japanese name
- ガラパゴスゾウガメ
- Group
- Amphibians and reptiles
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Testudines
- Family
- Testudinidae
- Genus
- Chelonoidis
Galápagos giant tortoises are sometimes divided into several species, depending on the island or area where they live. This page covers them together.
An especially large kind of tortoise. It lives in warm, dry places at the foot of volcanoes.
Shell shape differs depending on where they live. Tortoises on grassy islands have dome-shaped shells that make it easy to push through grass and bushes.
It eats cacti and other plants. Tortoises on islands with many cacti have saddle-shaped shells that let them lift their necks easily, making tall plants easier to eat.
How the Galápagos tortoise lives
They often warm their bodies in the sun. Their sense of smell is poor, so they find food by sight. They have no teeth and use the hard, bony edges of their mouths to bite off and mash food. At night, they may rest partly in mud, water, or brush to stay warm.
San Diego ZooWhere the Galápagos tortoise has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ガラパゴスゾウガメ
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 上野動物園 — ガラパゴスゾウガメChecked: 2026-11-03
- San Diego Zoo — Galápagos Giant TortoiseChecked: 2026-11-06
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Galápagos tortoise, look for this
- Look for inward-pointing feet and the body shifting from side to side with each step.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
San Diego ZooEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Galápagos tortoise
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Testudinidae
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