The Fernandina Island tortoise was thought to be extinct for a century, but a single female has been found.
Corryn Wetzel is a writer.
There is only one living Fernandina giant tortoise.
The Galapagos Conservancy is located in the archipelago.
There is a giant tortoise on the island of Fernandina. The Fernandina Island tortoise has not been found in more than 100 years.
The westernmost island in the archipelago was the location of the tortoise. The first tortoise discovered on the island was a male in 1906. It is possible that Fernanda was moved from a nearby island to a storm.
Researchers weren't sure which giant tortoise she was. The specimen had a saddleback-shaped shell.
Stephen Gaughran and his colleagues compared her genetics to other known tortoises. The team used a blood sample from Fernanda and a bone sample from the male specimen to confirm that they were distinct from the other 13 species of giant tortoises.
Gaughran says that they were able to show the connection between Fernanda and the other Fernandina tortoise and the distinctiveness of those two tortoises from species that we see on other islands. I was very excited when it sank in.
Evidence of tortoise faeces on the island led some to believe that the species was still alive. The volcanic island is difficult to access and search for tortoises is difficult. There could be more survivors on Fernandina Island.
There are a couple of tortoises on the island. Most likely, there aren't very many of them.
The Fernandina Island tortoises might be able to breed again if scientists can locate a male.
Fernanda could live to 200 years old, giving researchers some time to find her a mate. Fernanda is living out her days under the care of experts at the tortoise center.
There is a journal reference in communication biology.
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