Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise


Chelonoidis phantasticus is a species of Galápagos tortoise that was discovered in 1906 and not seen again until a single female was discovered living on Fernandina Island by an expedition in February 2019.

Taxonomy

Chelonoidis phantasticus is considered a member of the Chelonoidis nigra species complex, variably considered a subspecies of C. nigra or a valid species itself. Rhodin et al. lists them separately but under the heading "C. nigra species complex".

Discovery and rediscovery

Originally known from only one male specimen found by members of the 1906 California Academy of Sciences expedition, there were discoveries of putative tortoise droppings and cactus bite marks in 1964 and 2013, and an unconfirmed sighting in 2009. However, no confirmed live tortoises nor remains were found on Fernandina until an expedition in February 2019 discovered an elderly female. The expedition was led by Washington Tapia, director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, and included four rangers—Jeffreys Malaga, Eduardo Vilema, Roberto Ballesteros, and Simon Villamar—plus Forrest Galante, a biologist with Animal Planet, which funded the expedition. The tortoise has been transferred to a breeding center on the nearby island of Santa Cruz for the purpose of conservation and genetic tests. There are efforts being made to find a suitable male for Fern to breed with.