Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise

Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis porteri

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Galápagos Islands
401 Verified records at Galápagos Islands
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The western Santa Cruz tortoise (Chelonoidis niger porteri) is a subspecies of Galápagos tortoise endemic to Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos. They are found only on the southwestern slopes of the island, with an estimated range of 141 sq. kilometers. There are approximately 3400 individuals in the wild, and have seen rising numbers in population, despite being critically endangered. MtDNA evidence shows that there are actually three genetically distinct populations on Santa Cruz Island. They are characterised by a black, oval carapace (to 130 cm) that is domed, higher in the centre than in the front, and broad anteriorly. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 401 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands

Galápagos Giant Tortoise
CR Endemic

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis niger

40–50% · Likely
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

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
30–40
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
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
30–40%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

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

About 32% of wildlife watchers report a Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 401 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

April has the highest sighting rate for Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.

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