Galapagos?

giantpagong

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This group of torts are being labeled as Galapagos Tortoises...what are your thoughts?


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Maggie Cummings

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Although superficially similar Galapagos and Indian Ocean giant tortoises are easy to distinguish. The Galapagos species (Chelonoidis nigra) have very broad, blunt heads and the carapace lacks a nuchal scute. The Aldabra-Seychelles tortoises have smaller, narrower heads and the carapace usually (but not always has a nuchal scute).
 

Yvonne G

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Aldabran tortoise. Galops nose holes are on the same plane as their eyes, while Aldabs nose holes are lower than the eyes.
 

Tom

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Whoa whoa whoa! I was just corrected for this nuchal scute thing. Apparently not all aldabs have them, and several examples were shown.

Just kidding around with y'all, but it is true.

I agree that these are Aldabras, by the way. Just don't want anyone else to make my former mistake and use the presence or absence of the nuchal scute alone as an ID tool.
 

wellington

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The head and nose is what usually does it for me. Sorry Jeff, but I don't think Galapagos are as cute as Aldabrans when adult size.
 

Yvonne G

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I have two Aldabran tortoises. One of them has a nuchal scute and the other does not.
 

giantpagong

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Thank you all for your responses. The nuchal scute was a give away.

Years ago I encountered an Aldabra with a missing nuchal when viewed from the top, but if you look under, you'll find the missing nuchal scute

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DeanS

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For you simpletons...I like to look at it like this. An aldabra looks like an elephant trunk with eyes and a mouth! Galaps are much more regal as they have a face that resembles an archaic sulcata! :)
 

Flipper

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For you simpletons...I like to look at it like this. An aldabra looks like an elephant trunk with eyes and a mouth! Galaps are much more regal as they have a face that resembles an archaic sulcata! :)
You funnies :p
 
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