Now scientists disagree about whether there are actually separate species. The most famous resident of the Galapagos islands was Lonesome George, who was the only surviving giant Pinta Island tortoise left on Earth. The most northern island in the Galapagos, at one time Isla Pinta had a thriving tortoise population. The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the biggest living species of tortoise and the 10th-heaviest living reptile. Coat of arms: Divided in four, with representative images of the islands, such as volcanic cones, the blue sea, a sail boat, and of course the iconic Galapagos tortoise. Galapagos tortoise is the largest tortoise on the planet. 1. Today I want to write about Galapagos giant tortoises because they are awesome, gentle giants and I would love to meet one in the wild one day. Fun Facts: The last known individual of the subspecies was a male named Lonesome Georgewho died on 24 June 2012. The subspecies was portrayed by Albert Günther in 1877 after examples touched base in London. He died June 24, 2012. Pinta Island Tortoise (Lonesome George) 8.1cm x 5cm. Galapagos Lonesome George was the last known individual of the Pinta Island Tortoise was was labeled the rarest creature in the world. The tortoise lives in seven of the Galápagos Islands. He was the first president of Ecuador and it was under his administration when the Ecuadorian government took authority over the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos archipelago is one of the top adventure tourism destinations in the world. Given the distance to Pinta from port, these fishermen simply wanted fresh meat on their long fishing voyages. Pinta is a shield volcano with numerous young cones and lava flows originating from NNW-trending fissures. Here are five interesting facts about them: They are the largest land tortoise … ... the Galapagos Islands were home to the sole remaining Giant Pinta tortoise in the world that was known affectionately as Lonesome George until his passing. It was once thought that there was one species with 14 subspecies. Here are 22 Interesting Tortoise facts. The Galapagos Islands make a wonderful place to visit, and many people each year take a Galapagos Islands cruise or land-based Galapagos tour to get to see the wildlife and enjoy the unusual volcanic scenery. Interesting Facts About Pinta Island tortoise. The Galapagos are home to a turtle that can live up to 150 years. This beautiful animal can be found only on the Island of Galapagos. Learn about Galapagos Lonesome George with Quasar Expeditions. Four types have gone extinct, including one just recently when the last Pinta Island tortoise… The Galapagos Tortoise Fun Facts: The last known individual of the subspecies was a male named Lonesome Georgewho died on 24 June 2012. It is an uninhabited island with an area of 20 square miles (52 square km). The island is a volcanic archipelago about 1,000 km (620 mi) west of … Giant Tortoise Habitat. Giant Tortoise Behaviour. In his last years, he was known as the rarest creature in the world. The Galapagos Islands are also the only place on the planet where certain plants and animals exist. The Pinta Island tortoise, otherwise called the Pinta mammoth tortoise, Abingdon Island tortoise , or Abingdon Island monster tortoise, is a type ... A 100 year old Pinta Island tortoise has a Weight of 200 pounds and measuring 5 feet in length. Giant Tortoise Diet. … Baby tortoises have been found on the Galapagos Island for the first time in over 100 years. The Evolution of the Giant Tortoise. In our last article in a series of Galapagos Islands fun facts, ... who was the only surviving giant Pinta Island tortoise left on Earth when discovered in 1971 by wardens from Galapagos National Park who were hunting nonnative goats on Pinta Island… 3. > 10 interesting facts about the Galapagos Islands. Some of the most impressive facts about the Galapagos Giant Tortoise is that they keep growing for 30 to 40 years, reaching almost five feet. Galapagos Giant Tortoise. However, it was changed to Floreana in honor of Juan José Flores. He was known as the rarest creature in the world and served … ... the oldest island … In his last years, he was … Lonesome George died on the 24th June 2012 at the age of 100. The Pinta tortoise was thought to be extinct in the early part of the 20 th century. They also weigh about 500 pounds. Pinta Island Tortoise (Lonesome George) 8.1cm x 5cm. 10 interesting facts about the Galapagos Islands. The elongated island of Pinta is the northernmost of the active Galapagos volcanoes. Here are 10 facts about turtles and tortoises… Here are some interesting Galapagos Islands facts to help make your adventure even richer. He was known as the rarest creature in the world and served as a symbol for conservation. Here are five interesting facts about them: They are the largest land tortoise in the world, with some growing up … This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg, Assistant Editor. 1-5 Tortoise Facts. Galapagos tortoise. The Giant Tortoise did not receive a scientific name for over 300 years due to the failure of delivery of specimens to Europe for classification due to their great taste, all were eaten on the voyage back by … Today I want to write about Galapagos giant tortoises because they are awesome, gentle giants and I would love to meet one in the wild one day. One of the four main families of reptiles, turtles and tortoises have been objects of human fascination for thousands of years.But how much do you really know about these vaguely comical reptiles?