Aldabra Tortoise: One of the Largest Rare Tortoises in the World

The Aldabra is one of the largest rare tortoises in the world which originated from Aldabra Atoll - where their name came from. Their scientific name is Aldabrachelys gigantea, and they have a lifespan of about 100 years. The Aldabra may be one of the largest tortoises in the world, but that does not mean that they cannot also be one of the endangered species of tortoise in the world, and a rare find. Because of their rarity, and the fact that they are an endangered species, they are not usually kept as pets; instead, they can be found in zoos and wildlife preserves. There are, however, attempts to reintroduce the Aldabra Tortoise to the islands and their natural original home so that it can once again populate the world.

The Aldabra Tortoises get their name from the island that they originated from - the Aldabra Atoll. The Aldabra Atoll is north of Madagascar. Even on the motherland, there are not many Aldabra Giant Tortoises around; in fact, there is an estimation that there is about 150 000 tortoises on the island itself. These tortoises usually reside on the open, coastal areas where there are grasslands and shrubs. They are generally found in this location because they are mainly grazers and rely on the grasses and shrubs for the majority of their diet. If there is lack of shade or dehydration, these tortoises will die quickly; this is usually what happens when the rainy season is over. There actually is not much known about the housing and the habitat values of the Aldabra Tortoise; even in captivity, we have to guess about the appropriate environment conditions for them. More often that not, this results in eggs that are not very fertile.

We weren't kidding when we said that the Aldabra Tortoise is very large. The females weigh over 350 pounds generally, and the males can average at around 550 pounds. They usually have a rounded, dark colored carapace with pieces of it bumping up. The patterns on their carapace are quite stunning to look at.

The Aldabra Tortoise breeds from February to May. They have quite a lot of young compared to some other tortoises, and will lay anywhere from four to twenty-five eggs each time; however, just because they lay many eggs, it does not mean they all result in little juvenile Aldabra Tortoise. The fact of the matter is that half of the eggs that are laid by the Aldabra Tortoise are not even fertile. They also take quite some time to mature; in fact, it will generally range from 90 - 200 days just to incubate. In captivity, the rates of fertility for the eggs are much lower than that of the wild.

Over history, the Aldabra Tortoise had to face some hard times. Settlers used to remove or kill the tortoises, and tourists would often leave being hazardous litter. They also have many predators preying for them and their young.

The Aldabra Tortoise is definitely an interesting turtle, and has many good qualities. It has many wonderful traits, and while it may be hard to care for, is definitely worth it!