BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Lone tortoise 'not last of kind'
"The giant Galapagos tortoise that became a conservation icon when it appeared he was the last of his kind is not so alone after all.
"Lonesome George" was thought to be the only survivor of a tortoise species native to the isle of Pinta.
Now, the journal Current Biology reports the discovery of a hybrid - the offspring from the union of a Pinta tortoise and another island species.
The "new" animal thus shares about half its genes in common with George.
Unfortunately for efforts to get George to reproduce, this hybrid tortoise, recently found on Isabela isle, is also a male. Nonetheless, its discovery in a relatively small sample of tortoises raises fresh hope for the future of George's species (Geochelone abingdoni)."
"The giant Galapagos tortoise that became a conservation icon when it appeared he was the last of his kind is not so alone after all.
"Lonesome George" was thought to be the only survivor of a tortoise species native to the isle of Pinta.
Now, the journal Current Biology reports the discovery of a hybrid - the offspring from the union of a Pinta tortoise and another island species.
The "new" animal thus shares about half its genes in common with George.
Unfortunately for efforts to get George to reproduce, this hybrid tortoise, recently found on Isabela isle, is also a male. Nonetheless, its discovery in a relatively small sample of tortoises raises fresh hope for the future of George's species (Geochelone abingdoni)."
I like stories like this. They make me realise that we don't quite know everything about the world. Thanks, Allegra!
