A giant tortoise thought to be extinct for over 100 years was found on Galapagos Islands. Also known as the Fernandina giant tortoise, the species was one of the greatest puzzles surrounding the mysterious island. However, unlike the other myths, the giant tortoise is pretty much alive and crawling on the alluring paradise.
With the discovery of the long-lost reptile, the giant tortoise added itself to the massive collection of species that can only be found in the Galapagos. Among the endemic species on the virgin Utopia are various finches, Fernandina rice rat, fur seal, and other rare plants.
Chelonoidis Phantasticus Found
The giant tortoise was proven to be living among other animals and is not extinct in a 2019 expedition. According to the research published in PLOS ONE entitled "Description of a New Galapagos Giant Tortoise Species (Chelonoidis; Testudines: Testudinidae) from Cerro Fatal on Santa Cruz Island," the biology experts have tested the DNA of a specific tortoise and compared it to an old specimen which was discovered over a century ago.
California Academy of Sciences researchers were the first to find imprints of the thought-to-be extinct giant tortoise. The test found out that the genetics of the 2019 tortoise, which was found by Yale University's biologist Gisella Caccone and 1906 tortoise match each other. This confirmation was a big stepping stone to preserve the species.
The Fernandina giant tortoise, scientifically named Chelonoidis phantasticus, is an astounding discovery for biologists and conservationists. Even Gustavo Manrique, Ecuador's Environment Minister, expressed his excitement for the future of the species, reports Independent.
Galapagos Conservancy's Science and Conservation vice president Dr. James Gibbs shared that the existence of the old giant tortoise species is the beginning of the search for more of them. He added that the rediscovery implies no other time to take care of the species but today.
Fernandina Giant Tortoise Expedition at Work
Other giant tortoises are expected to be found soon through the Galapagos National Park's plan to pursue the species. A comprehensive expedition is in the works, and even though there aren't plenty of giant tortoise sightings, authorities and scientists are fully confident that they will encounter the reptiles soon, reports New York Daily News.
The prints and droppings of the giant tortoise are scattered throughout the island, and this, along with the DNA results, is what drives their optimism. The obstacles that will stand in the way to tun into the Chelonoidis phantasticus are the colossal terrains and lava flows of the island. Additional challenges include the 60,000 species of the giant tortoise that are currently walking the paradise, which may contribute confusion to researchers.
According to previous coverage of National Geographic, some of the giant tortoises living in the Galapagos island can be hard to spot. The reptiles move around frequently, meaning that the speed of the known giant tortoises is possibly relative to the Fernandina. With a span of almost 250 square miles, the island will surely test the patience of the researchers in the next quest to find the said species.
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