TYLER, Texas — Weighing in at a maximum of 450 pounds, Aldabra giant tortoises are some of the largest reptiles on the planet.
An Aldabra tortoise's age is associated with the size of its shell. As they age, each segment of their shell, which is known as a scute, gains a ring, which is similar to the rings of a tree.
CBS19 stopped by the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler recently to get to know these creatures better.
Their shell is sensitive to touch. Due to the nerve endings an blood vessels that run through the shell, Aldabra tortoises can feel if their shell is touched or brushed.
Tortoises, like the Aldabra, are often confused with turtles. The difference is found in the creature's feet.
Turtles have flippers to swim gracefully through the water, while tortoises have sturdy legs meant for plodding through the dirt. However, this does not mean that tortoises are confined to dry areas as they often enjoy mud wallows.