The young inhabit dry, coastal lowland areas, migrating to higher ground at 10 to 15 years. Adults inhabit the humid, lush highlands and damp upper slopes. The colors are dark brown, dark green, or black. The maximum length is nearly four feet. Males can weigh 500 pounds.
Females are smaller.
They have a hard shell with growth rings on each scale. They are solitary. The female lays 8 to 17 eggs which are then covered with soil and incubated solely by the sun. Tortoises reach maturity at 20 to 25 years of age. They may live up to 150 years.