# What Do Galápagos Tortoises Eat?

> What galápagos tortoises eat: Herbivore, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Volcanic islands, grasslands, and scrub.

- **Species:** Galápagos Tortoise (*Chelonoidis niger*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Herbivore
- **Habitat:** Volcanic islands, grasslands, and scrub
- **Lifespan:** Over 100 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/galapagos-tortoise/what-do-galapagos-tortoise-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/galapagos-tortoise/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) is the world's largest living tortoise, found only on the volcanic Galápagos Islands off Ecuador. Adults can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb) and carry a shell up to 1.2 m (4 ft) long. These slow, plant-eating giants are famously long-lived, often surviving well over 100 years, and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Size and shell shape

Galápagos tortoises are the largest tortoises alive, with big adults reaching 250 kg (550 lb) or more and a shell measuring up to 1.2 m (4 ft) long. Their shell shape varies between islands and falls into two broad types. Tortoises from lush, moist highlands tend to have domed shells, while those from dry, low islands have a raised, saddle-shaped shell that lets them stretch their neck high to reach cactus pads and shrubs.

## Help protect the Galápagos Tortoise

The galápagos tortoise is listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss the leading threat to its future.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/galapagos-tortoise/what-do-galapagos-tortoise-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.