There are several tortoise species and subspecies in the world that exist in large numbers, and many of these are common in the pet trade. For example, Russian (Testudo horsfieldii) and red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonarius) are both common in the wild and in captive collections.
Others are rare in one circumstance but relatively common in the other.
For example, Indian star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) are relatively rare in the wild, but they’re regularly bred and widely available in captivity. Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), on the other hand, exhibit the opposite trend – they’re relatively rare in captivity, but some portions of their range harbor large populations of the animals.
And then, there are species that are rare in both situations, as they are neither common in the wild nor in captivity. There may be no better example of this phenomenon than the Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis niger abingdonii), a subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise.
And just like the Fernandina Island Tortoise, these amazing creatures may even be extinct – nobody knows for sure.
Allow me to explain some of the most interesting facts about the species and dig into the question of whether or not they still exist anywhere below.
Basic Information: The Pinta Island Tortoise
Before trying to figure out whether Pinta Island tortoises are extinct or extant, it is important to begin by sharing some of the basic facts about the species, including their geographic range and habitat, their physical attributes, and their diet.
Geographic Range and Habitat
The Pinta Island tortoise is one of the 12 to 15 currently recognized subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise (and some authorities consider all of these subspecies to be full species).
These varied subspecies all inhabit different ranges within the greater Galapagos Islands; some share islands with other subspecies while maintaining distinct gene pools, yet others are the sole inhabiting subspecies on a given island. The Pinta Island tortoise is an example of the latter – they were the only subspecies found on Pinta Island.
Pinta Island is a volcanic island with little more than 23 square miles of land area, and a maximum altitude of nearly 2600 feet. The island is warm and dry for most of the year, though it historically supported an abundance of vegetation. However, goats were introduced to the island in the 20th century, and they devastated much of the island’s plant life.
Physical Traits
By and large, the various Galapagos tortoises look similar. They all range in color from brown to dark olive, and have typical tortoise traits, such as elephantine feet and a hard, protective shell. However, there are subtle differences between the different subspecies, as they’ve all adapted to inhabit slightly different environments.
One of the most notable ways in which Galapagos tortoise subspecies differ relates to their carapace shape. Most subspecies exhibit one of two basic shell shapes: highly domed or “saddleback” shaped. Subspecies found on lusher, more humid islands tend to have domed shells, while those living on drier islands tend to have saddleback shells.
The saddleback shape is thought to be an adaptation that enables the tortoises to reach higher into the local trees and shrubs to feed. Pinta Island is relatively dry, and Pinta Island tortoises have saddleback-shaped shells.
Pinta Island tortoises are also one of the larger subspecies, and some individuals are known to have reached at least 6 feet in length and stood 5 feet high when their necks were fully outstretched. Several individuals were found to weigh at least 400 pounds, and it is possible that some exceeded this by a significant margin.
Diet
Galapagos tortoises are largely herbivorous, though it is possible they consume the odd bit of carrion. Young individuals may also consume insects or other invertebrates from time to time.
There isn’t a great deal of information available regarding the specific plant species Pinta Island tortoises consumed. However, they presumably consumed a variety of plants that are native to the island. We do know that most Galapagos tortoises are important agents of seed dispersal (much like most other giant tortoises), and there is some evidence that the ecology of Pinta Island has suffered as the tortoise populations declined.
In captivity, Pinta Island tortoises consume standard tortoise fare, including leafy greens, fruit, and cactus pads.
Pinta Island Tortoises in the Wild
Unfortunately, humans exploited Pinta Island tortoises throughout the 19th century, with whalers, fur traders, and sailors using the tortoises as a food source. Because the tortoises hadn’t adapted to this kind of predatory pressure, their numbers plummeted.
Ultimately, the tortoises were thought to have become extinct by the early part of the 20th century. Then, in the 1950s, fishermen released three goats on the island to serve as a source of meat during their travels. But because there were no predators on the island, the goat population exploded. By the 1970s, the goat population was estimated to have reached more than 40,000, and the animals had decimated the island’s vegetation.
This made it easier for people visiting the island to see animals moving about. And in 1971, a scientist visiting the island saw a single living tortoise ambling about.
Pinta Island Tortoises in Captivity
This living Pinta Island tortoise was quickly captured and moved to a tortoise conservation facility in Santa Cruz.
Eventually dubbed “Lonesome George,” he became a symbol for conservation around the world and an ambassador to the general public. Scientists searched far and wide for another member of his subspecies so that he could potentially breed and prevent the subspecies from becoming completely extinct.
However, no such tortoise was ever found – neither in the wild nor in any zoological collection. For more than 40 years, he was known as the world’s rarest animal.
Unfortunately, Lonesome George died in his enclosure in 2012. And this meant that the world not only lost George, but also an entire subspecies of tortoise.
However, a glimmer of hope has appeared in recent years. Historically, pirates and sailors would occasionally transport these tortoises from one island to the next. One such island has been found to have living tortoises that appear to be hybrids between Pinta Island tortoises and Floreana Island tortoises (Chelonoidis niger niger), including one that is a direct descendant of Lonesome George.
Scientists hope that a living member of the Pinta Island subspecies may eventually be found living on the island.
Citations
- American Museum of Natural History — Galapagos Tortoises and Evolution
- Galapagos Conservation Trust – Galapagos giant tortoise
- The Guardian — Galápagos experts find a tortoise related to Lonesome George
- Galapagos Conservancy – Lonesome George
