The Galápagos giant tortoise complex (Chelonoidis nigra and related species) are the largest living species of tortoise. With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. There are around 10 types of giant tortoises left in the Galápagos, down from 15 when Darwin arrived. They were hunted as food by pirates, whalers, and merchantmen during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries – more than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been killed off. Giant tortoises exist on only two remote archipelagos: the Galápagos Islands about 1,000 km (620 mi) due west of mainland Ecuador; and Aldabrachelys gigantea of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km (430 mi) east of Tanzania.
