The Galapagos giant tortoise, a symbol of the Galapagos Islands, arrived from South America 2-3 million years ago. Initially, there were 14 species, but only 12 survive today, following the death of Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, in 2012. These tortoises exhibit two main shell types: domed and saddle-backed. Domed tortoises, with rounded shells, live on larger, humid islands and feed on low vegetation. Saddle-backed tortoises, with upward-curving shells, inhabit drier islands, allowing them to reach higher vegetation. Giant tortoises spend up to 16 hours resting daily and feed on grasses, fruits, and cactus pads. They have a lifespan exceeding 100 years and can endure a year without food or water. They engage in a symbiotic relationship with small birds, such as Galapagos finches, which remove parasites from their skin folds. Breeding mainly occurs from January to May, with females laying 2-16 eggs that hatch after about 130 days of incubation by the sun.