Chelonoidis phantasticus

In News 

Species of turtle named Fernanda after her Fernandina Island  thought extinct 100 years ago rediscovered recently .

• Researchers have reported the confirmation in a paper in Nature Communications Biology.

About 

• It belongs to Chelonoidis phantasticus.
• Chelonoidis phantasticus means “fantastic giant tortoise”. 
  • Commonly called the Fernandina Island Galápagos giant tortoise
  •  The species was so far known only from a single individual, collected in 1906.
• Habitat and Distribution 
  • Chelonoidis phantasticus is a saddle backed tortoise adapted for browsing on higher vegetation such as Opuntia trees. 
  • Fernandina habitat is largely dry xeric brushland at lower elevations, but much of that habitat has been destroyed by extensive recent lava flows.
  • The small area of remaining higher-quality habitat is mesic and at higher elevations.

• IUCN Status 

• Chelonoidis phantasticus is listed as Critically Endangered 

Source:IE