Galápagos Giant Tortoise
Galápagos Giant TortoiseGalápagos Giant TortoiseGalápagos Giant TortoiseGalápagos Giant Tortoise

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis niger

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Galápagos Islands
851 Verified records at Galápagos Islands
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger), also called the Galápagos giant tortoise, is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (which also contains three smaller species from mainland South America). The species comprises 15 subspecies (12 extant and 3 extinct). It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals (ectotherms). With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. Captive Galapagos tortoises can live up to 177 years. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 851 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands

Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise
CR

Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis porteri

30–40% · Possible
Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise
CR

Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis guntheri

10–20% · With luck
Chatham Island Giant Tortoise
EN

Chatham Island Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis chathamensis

5–10% · With luck
Alcedo Volcano Giant Tortoise
VU

Alcedo Volcano Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

5–10% · With luck
Isabela Island Giant Tortoise
EN

Isabela Island Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis vicina

Insufficient data
Hood Island Giant Tortoise
CR

Hood Island Giant Tortoise

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chelonoidis hoodensis

Insufficient data
Volcan Wolf Giant Tortoise
VU

Volcan Wolf Giant Tortoise

Reptile

Chelonoidis becki

Insufficient data
Duncan Island Giant Tortoise
VU

Duncan Island Giant Tortoise

Reptile

Chelonoidis duncanensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
40–50
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
50–60
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
50–60
Aug
40–50
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
40–50%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Galápagos Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands?

About 48% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 851 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Galápagos Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands?

May has the highest sighting rate for Galápagos Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.

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