---
title: "Galápagos Giant Tortoise"
description: "Chelonoidis niger — Gady. 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)."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pl/animal/galapagos-giant-tortoise
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Galápagos Giant Tortoise

> Chelonoidis niger — Gady. 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).

- Scientific name: *Chelonoidis niger*
- Category: `reptiles` (Gady)
- Habitats: unknown
- iNaturalist observations: 6383
- iNaturalist taxon: [539452](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/539452)

## Names

- en: Galápagos Giant Tortoise
- de: Galapagos-Riesenschildkröte
- es: Tortuga gigante de Floreana
- fr: Tortue géante des Galápagos

## Countries with the most observations

EC (4247)

## Summary

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. For example, a captive individual…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos_tortoise

## Photo

![Galápagos Giant Tortoise](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/galapagos-giant-tortoise/medium.jpg)

Photo: Zoltán Stekkelpak · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254254229

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/galapagos-giant-tortoise?lang=pl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).