Galapagos Giant Tortoises mating (Geochelone elephantophus vandenburghi)
Alcedo Volcano crater floor, Isabela Island
ECUADOR. South America
One of 11 sub-species survising in the islands. This is an example of the dome-shaped sub-species. Alcedo hosts over half the 15,000 tortoises left in Galapagos. All tortoises were heavy hunted for food in the past. Dome-shaped males are double the size of the females. Males stay mainly in the highlands while females migrate towards the coast when they need to lay eggs.