Tui De Roy / Epanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis), with Galapagos mockingbird (Mimus parvulus) perched on carapace, Espnola Island, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi), Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi), Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island. This is where the largest extant population exists, acting as ecosystem engineers by maintaining open meadows and digg...

Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) two males fight briefly over mating rights. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) in habitat. Hybrids of mixed parentage with different shell shapes are scattered far and wide on the rugged west slope of Wolf Volcano. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Is...

Lorraine Bennery / Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, Madagascar, December. Critically endangered species.

Ann & Steve Toon / Leopard / mountain tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) with elephant bull (Loxodonta africana) behind in water, Addo elephant national park, Eastern Cape, South Africa, September

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoises (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) group resting in water on moonlit night to keep cool, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) walking, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) pair mating in shallow pool, with two others resting nearby. Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Western Santa Cruz giant tortoises (Chelonoidis porteri) resting in water, South coast (Las Palmitas), Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Western Santa Cruz giant tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri) feeding on grass, El Chato II, Highlands, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Western Santa Cruz giant tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri) portrait, Highlands, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendants (Chelonoidis elephantopus) feeding on flower. These are descendants of the extinct Floreana giant tortoise, but are hybridised with other species. Fausto Lle...

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) silhouetted at sunrise, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) group resting in pool, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) group resting in water at night, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) male mating with female while squabbling with another tortoise. Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Andy Rouse / Alcedo volcano Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) adult male on forest track, Urbina Bay, Isabela Island, Galapagos.

Ann & Steve Toon / Honey badger (Mellivora capensis) feeding on a Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) swimming in Passe Grande Magnan / Magnan channel, Aldabra, Indian Ocean Image taken under controlled conditions.

Willem Kolvoort / Split level view of Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) swimming in Passe Grande Magnan / Magnan channel, Aldabra, Indian Ocean Image taken under controlled conditions.

Tui De Roy / Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra porteri) feeding on grass, Santa Cruz Highlands, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra porteri) feeding on grass, Santa Cruz Highlands, Galapagos

B&S Draker / Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) adult sunning on log with dragonfly perched on its nose. Starr County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA.

Jane Burton / Silver tabby kitten inspecting a tortoise. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOK USE

Jane Burton / Tabby kitten inspecting a tortoise. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOK USE

Inaki Relanzon / Ploughshare / Angonoka tortoise (Geochelone yniphora), one of the most endangered turtles in the world, Baie de Baly National Park, North west Madagascar.

MORLEY READ / "Lonesome George", the last Galapagos Tortoise {Geochelone elephantopus} from Pinta Island, Galapagos

Pete Oxford / Leatherback female returning to sea {Cermochelys coriacea} Grande Riviere, Trinidad

Aaron Gekoski / Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) looking out from the cliffs of Lavanono, southern Madagascar.

Aaron Gekoski / Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) on deforested land, Madagascar. Forests (the tortoises' natural habitat) are being cleared for the charcoal and rice industries, and for cattle pasture. Sep...

David Perpinan / Pair of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) mating in a zoo, Spain, May.

Mark Taylor / RF - Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) captive occurs in Africa. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Mark Taylor / African Spurred or Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata). Captive, occurs in Africa.

Mark Taylor / Horsefield or Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) captive, occurs in Central Asia.

Mark Taylor / Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Captive, occurs in Africa.

John Cancalosi / Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), Arizona, USA, July.

Nick Upton / Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in a farmland habitat bordering Mondrago Natural Park where they have been reintroduced this century, Santanyi, Majorca, May.

Tui De Roy / White-cheeked pintails (Anas bahamensis) with Western Santa Cruz tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri) at pond, Santa Cruz, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Pinta saddleback tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonensis) 'Lonsesome George', with his keeper. The last of his species, who died in 2012. Tortoise Breeding Centre, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island,...

Tui De Roy / Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) perched on Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos..

Tui De Roy / Galapagos dove (Zenadia galapagensis) flock at puddle, with one on head of Galapagos giant tortoise, (Chelonoidis darwini) Santiago Highlands, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Galapagos dove (Zenadia galapagensis) on head of Galapagos giant tortoise, (Chelonoidis darwini) Santiago Highlands, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendant (Chelonoidis elephantopus), Fausto Llerena Giant Trotoise Breeding Centre, Galapagos National park Directorate, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Espanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) walking through Tree prickly pears (Opuntia echios) Espanola Island, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Espanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis), Espanola Island, Espanola Island, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Espanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) pair mating, Espanola Island, Galapagos.