on tGalapagos tortoise (chelonoidis nigra) It was thought to be extinct within the last 100 years, as the last specimen of the species was seen in 1906. However, in 2019 a group of biologists found a specimen in I.lha Fernandina, in the Galapagos Islands archipelago, which confirms the continuity of its existence.
On a trip to the island, a group of scientists from Princeton University found this female giant tortoise, but weren’t sure which species it was, as its shell was different from a male found a century earlier. After analyzing and comparing their DNA, the team confirmed that they had similar genes. It was named Fernanda because of the place where it was discovered, and it is estimated to be more than 50 years old – and may be 200 years old.
“We were able to show the connection between Fernanda and the other turtle Fernandina” [encontrada na mesma ilha] And also to see the difference between these two turtles and the species seen on other islands.”One of the authors, Stephen J. gauharan says studyWhich is now published in the scientific journal Nature. “Our hope is that there are still some of these turtles on the island. But there probably aren’t too many copies.”
The turtle is now being monitored at the Galápagos National Park’s Turtle Center,
