Are these Alcedo volcano giant tortoises a subspecies or a separate species?
Tui De Roy/Minden/naturepl.com
Controversy continues over the number of extant Galapagos tortoise species, and the results may affect how these endangered giant tortoises are protected.
The researchers defined 16 populations of giant tortoises (Cheronoides spp.) are distributed throughout the Galapagos Islands and are based on differences in shell shape, behavior and genetics. Three of his species are now extinct due to habitat loss for hunting, agriculture, and the introduction of invasive species such as goats competing for food. …
