After genetic analysis, a new species of tortoise showed itself on the Galápagos Islands, separated from a larger group that had already been discovered.
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The specialists noticed that there are presently around 250 Eastern Santa Cruz Tortoises living in the island.
This is generally considered the 14th confirmed species of Galapagos tortoise, including two extinct ones: Santa Fe, which died off more than 150 years ago, and Pinta, whose last survivor, Lonesome George, died in 2012.
Scientists say a new species of giant tortoise has been discovered in the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador, thanks to genetic testing.
Over the past few years, the number of giant tortoises in the Galapagos has significantly dwindled due to a variety of factors. Giant tortoise populations have become increasingly pressured by human exploitation, non-native species and habitat loss.
The new species lives in eastern Santa Cruz, in an arid, lava-laced lowland that has been called Cerro Fatal (Deadly Hill) ever since a park ranger had a bad fall on the harsh terrain, said Linda Cayot, science adviser for the Galapagos Conservancy and an author of the new study.
For Adalgisa Caccone of Yale University and leader of the research team, the identification of the new species will pave the way for conservation efforts to guarantee its survival.
In the course of recent years, the quantity of titan tortoises in the Galapagos has essentially dwindled because of an assortment of variables. Their report was published on October 21 in the scientific journal PLOS One.
The Eastern Santa Cruz Tortoises were found in a relatively small number of roughly 100, living just over 6 miles away from the bigger western group.
“Giant tortoises occur in two separate locations in Santa Cruz”, Garrick said. The population of almost 2,000 giant tortoises in the western part of the island belongs to the Chelonoidis porter species, but the newly identified one is Chelonoidis donfaustoi.
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The new study will help to inform the work carried out by the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, so they can protect and restore animals to their natural habitats.
