REPTILES OF ALL LANDS 
GO7 
GIANT TORTOISE (Testudo elephantina) : ALDABRA ISLANDS 
A number of species of gigantic tortoises inhabit miniature archipelagoes in the Indian 
and Pacific oceans. These island monsters appear to be survivors of ancient races of reptiles. 
Photo by Raymond L. Ditmars. 
is another monster reptile, attaining a 
length of 20 feet. Together with the 
Nile crocodile, it has a bad reputation 
regarding the destruction of human life. 
The American species appear to be in- 
offensive, though some grow to huge 
proportions. In captivity, however, they 
become bold by constantly observing the 
presence of their keepers, and are liable 
to attack a man without warning. 
Attaining the greatest bulk of any of 
the modern reptiles, the crocodilians 
have been alleged to grow very slowly 
and reach remarkable ages. Judging 
from observations that have been made 
in the reptile-house of the New York 
Zoological Park, the growth of alliga- 
tors and crocodiles is quite rapid. Some 
alligators hatched in the building in- 
creased from a length of seven inches 
to the substantial size of over eight feet 
within a period of eight years. 
THE TORTOISES AND TURTLES 
Made up of 11 families, 52 genera, 
and over 225 species, the turtles and tor- 
toises form another order of the reptiles 
of quite direct, ancient lineage. There 
is no great degree of specialization to be 
noted among these creatures with the 
exception of the marine species, which, 
having taken to the sea, have undergone 
a modification of the limbs, these having 
developed into flippers. 
Strangest among the tortoises and 
turtles, and appealing to some students 
as the strangest of all the reptiles, are 
the gigantic tortoises inhabiting small 
