Hood Island Tortoise - are one of the smallest giant tortoise subspecies, of which there are 11. Although there is a great amount of variation in size and shape among these subspecies, two main morphological forms exist - the "Domed Carapace" and the "Saddle-Backed Carapace". The "domed" tortoises tend to be much larger in size, do not have the upward curvature shape to the front of their carapace, they live on the larger (taller) islands with humid highlands where forage is generally abundant and easily available. "Saddle-Backed" shells evolved on the arid islands in response to less abundant food during drought, with the front of their shell angled upwards allowing them to extend their heads higher to reach vegetation (such as cactus pads) growing higher above the ground. This saddle-backed specimen displaying its long limbs, extended neck, and arched carapace openings.

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