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Giant tortoise species thought extinct is ‘rediscovered’
A giant tortoise thought to have died out 150 years ago may be living a secret life in the Galapagos Islands.Genetic clues suggest pure-bred members of the species, which helped shape Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution, have recently interbred with some of their cousins.Scientists found the genetic footprint of the species Chelonoidis elephantopus in the DNA of 84 tortoises from Isabela Island, part of the Galapagos island chain.Each of these hybrids must have had a parent that was one of the missing species. In 30 cases, breeding had taken place within the last 15 years.Since the lifespan of tortoises can exceed 100 years, there is a high chance that many C. elephantopus individuals are still alive, scientists believe.