what is the largest animal on the galapagos islands
Galapagos tortoises. These giant tortoises are so iconic that the islands were named after them (galapago means tortoise in Spanish). They are the largest tortoises in the world and among the longest living vertebrates, with potential lifespans in excess of 170 years. In the absence of any major predators, adult tortoises evolved a docile demeanor, which unfortunately made them easy to exploit by early human settlers.