An Aldabra giant tortoise seeking as much shade as possible behind the trunk of a tree that is almost entirely engulfed by a strangler fig. Some aerial roots from the strangler fig on the branches above the tortoise hang down and frame the tortoise like a curtain.

Lunchtime on Aldabra Atoll - where sharing the shade with gorgeous giants makes any day feel like #TortoiseTuesday 💚🐢🌿 #FieldworkArchive

Two giant tortoises in a pond filled with green algal scum. Long threads of green hang from their mouths down to the water like green spaghetti.

A #TortoiseTuesday timeline cleanse - enjoy this pair of algae-munching giants on Aldabra Atoll 💚🐢🌿 #FieldworkArchive

A tortoise in a pond, feeding on large mouthfuls of slimy green algae. The light is low, it is close to sunset.

Eat your greens this #TortoiseTuesday - just like this Aldabra giant tortoise, bobbing around in a pond on Eastern Grande Terre, munching on thick blobs of green algae. 🐢🌿 #FieldworkArchive

The head and part of the neck of a sleeping giant tortoise, resting on the dusty ground; deep shadows and golden light tells us it's late afternoon.

A late afternoon nap in the François Leguat Reserve on Rodrigues - oh, to be an Aldabra giant tortoise on this grey & dreary autumn day! 💚🐢🌿 #TortoiseThursday #FieldworkArchive

The front end of a sleeping giant tortoise with part of the shell and most of its head except for eyes and snout/nostrils submerged under water in a small rock pool

Noon-snoozing giant chilling out in a murky pool on Aldabra Atoll this #TortoiseTuesday - nostrils strategically held just above the water line. #FieldworkArchive 🌿🐢

Two giant tortoises lying on a bit of grass in a forest. They both have their front legs stretched out and look very relaxed.

Just two giant pals hanging out in the evening on this #TortoiseTuesday - neatly highlighting the broad range of shell shapes on Aldabra Atoll: One has a wide open front, the other one a much lower front #FieldworkArchive 🐢🌿

A giant tortoise lying on a rock in a pond; nec stretched upward, eyes closed, happy face. The body is reflected in the water in front of the tortoise.

Friday morning mood. Be the tortoise. Ommmmmm 🐢
Reptilian yoga on a flat rock just below the surface in a pond on Eastern Grande Terre, Aldabra Atoll #FieldworkArchive 🌿

Two stalk-eyes protruding just above water level in a small, dark hole in the limestone. The eyes and part of the crab's carapace below the water are highlighted against the murky water by a spot of sunlight. The crab is a mangrove crab, Cardisoma carnifex.

Walking across Aldabra Atoll, it's hard to shake the feeling of being watched. Even the deep, dark holes have eyes. Stalky, stalky eyes. 🦀🌿 #FieldworkArchive

A giant tortoise sitting on a sandy surface - with wet grains of sand all around its nose and mouth

"I didn't snort anything - why do you ask?" - an innocent Aldabra giant tortoise outside our field camp, deep-diving into the sand where we emptied the water from a few cans of tuna #TortoiseTuesday #FieldworkArchive 🐢🌿

A giant tortoise walking on a beach with wet sand, leaving a track of swishy footprints behind

Friday mood: Sunset stroll at low tide, Picard Island, Aldabra Atoll #FieldworkArchive 🐢🌿

A curious giant tortoise checking out this newfangled moving-image feature on Bsky. How curious? Watch and see. Tortoise turf on Eastern Grande Terre, Aldabra Atoll. Sound on for adorable sniffing noises 💚 🐢🌿 #FieldworkArchive

A large terrestrial crab walking in a rocky landscape, with tufts of grass sticking out from its mouthparts.

The grassy turfs on Aldabra Atoll are not only home to grazing giant tortoises - but also the wonderful mangrove crabs, Cardisoma carnifex; here feeding on grasses & sedges for #InverteFest 🌿🦀 #FieldworkArchive

the front part of a giant tortoise, head, long neck, front legs and part of the shell, walking on white sand. The tortoise has a partly open mouth, biting down towards a small green seedling.

For #TortoiseTuesday, here's a large male Aldabra giant tortoise exploring the white sands of LaGigi on Picard Island at low tide, about to end the young life of a tasty mangrove seedling. Note how it extends its sticky tongue to help pull the plant into its mouth #FieldworkArchive 🐢🌿

red-beaked parent bird incubating a single egg directly on the ground in a small, partly-roofed rock overhang

A very fluffy chick sitting in the nest

A larger chick with parts of its juvenile plumage developed, sitting out in the open

Red-tailed tropicbirds on Round Island, Mauritius (2003): An incubating parent near the summit of the island, a floofy nestling giving its best Mozart impression, and an older chick out in the open; the latter two waiting for seafood delivery #FieldworkArchive 🪶🌿