The giant tortoises of the Galápagos islands are one of the most important creatures found here, by means of man's understanding of the significant importance this archipelago holds. Not only is the name "Galápagos" derived from the spanish word galápago, meaning tortoise, these prehistoric looking animals were also a fundamental influence to Darwin's theory of evolution. Finding various species on 7 of the islands, there are distinct difference between each, which helped them adapt to the geographical differences of the islands. Even on the same island you may find low-land Tortoises with saddle shaped shells and long necks, compared to their high-land relatives who have larger shells and shorter necks. These harmless creatures were once hunted to the brink of extinction, but now with assistance from the Darwin Society, they have been bred back to sustainable populations and reintroduced into the islands in full abundance.
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