Stop outside the Reptile Building to see the Aldabra tortoises. These reptiles are the second largest tortoise species in the world.
Tortoise shells are made of keratin, just like our fingernails. The shell of a tortoise is part of their body and grows with them. A tortoise’s spine and ribs are attached to their shell, and they can feel the lightest touch.
Tortoises and turtles are some of the most long-lived members of the reptile family. The oldest Aldabra tortoise on record is 180 years old, and Bubba, who hatched in 1947, is the oldest animal at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Scientific Name: Aldabrachelys gigantea
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Size: Carapace size 35.43 to 55.12 inches
Weight: Males: can weigh more than 500 pounds; females about 250 pounds
