In 2004, this giant Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) seems to have survived an ocean voyage
In 2004, this giant Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) seems to have survived an ocean voyage from Atoll island of Aldabra to the east coast of Africa. That’s more than 740 km! The barnacles size suggests its trip took 6-7 weeks!Despite the tortoise size, the trans-oceanic dispersal is supposed to be the mechanism where tortoises, and many other animals settle on islands around the world. This is the first direct evidence of a tortoise surviving a oceanic trip. - Another record of a giant Aldabra tortoise off Alphonse Island, The Seychelles, December 2005. Photograph by J. GerlachResearchers believe that after torrential winds and hurricanes, tortoises are transported to the sea, left to its lucky. This is the classic model of oceanic island colonization. It is ironic that the first documented trans-oceanic movement of a tortoise occurred from an island to a continent, rather than the reverse direction that is so importantto island biogeographyReference (Open Access): Gerlach et al. 2006. The first substantiated case of trans-oceanic tortoise dispersal. Journal of Natural Historyversión en español -- source link
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