ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 10th August. Click Here for more information.
What is the News?
A Giant Tortoise named Chelonoidis Phantasticus once believed to be extinct has been recently discovered in 2019.
What is Chelonoidis Phantasticus?
IUCN status: Critically endangered & possibly extinct.
Chelonoidis Phantasticus is a Giant Tortoise. It is commonly called Fernandina Island, Galápagos Giant Tortoise.
It has been named Fernanda after the Fernandina Island where it was discovered.
The species was so far known only from a single individual, collected in 1906. It has now been recently discovered again in 2019.
These tortoises can’t swim from one island to another. But they can be carried from one Galápagos island to another during major storms. There are also historical records of seafarers moving the tortoises between islands.
What is Fernandina Island?
Fernandina Island is an active volcano that stands alone on the western periphery of the Galápagos Archipelago. It is reputed to be the largest pristine island on Earth.
Source: The post is based on the article “This word means: Chelonoidis phantasticus” published in Indian Express on 11th June 2022.
