MATILDA- ALDABRA TORTOISE

 

MATILDA- ALDABRA TORTOISE

Sex: Female

Latin name: Aldabrachelys gigantea

Native Home:  The ALDABRA TORTOISE are native to Aldabra Island, one of the Seychelles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

Size:  ALDABRA TORTOISES are one of the world's largest land tortoises. Males are considerably larger than females and have longer, thicker tails. The male's carapace length can measure 4 feet (1.22 meters) and they can weigh up to 550 pounds.

Diet: The ALDABRA TORTOISE are herbivores. Primarily, their diets consist of many types of grasses and plants, high in fiber and very low in protein. Flowers and other plants including cactus pads can be consumed

Reproduction: ALDABRA TORTOISES breeding season extends from February to May; females carry the eggs for about ten weeks, after which period they are buried in the ground. Clutch size is nine to 25 eggs the size of tennis balls. Typically, only three to five viable young are produced from a clutch. In high-density populations, female Aldabras may only lay four to five eggs every few years, whereas in low-density populations they may lay several clutches a year. Incubation is about four months. 

Lifespan: The ALDABRA TORTOISES lifespan in captivity can range from 100-200 years.