‘Extinct’ giant tortoise lives on

A GIANT tortoise which helped shape Darwin’s ideas about evolution and was thought to have been extinct for 150 years may be living a secret life in the Galapagos Islands.

Genetic clues suggest pure-bred members of the species 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.

The genetic evidence is reported in the journal, Current Biology.