Watch | New giant turtle species discovered in Ecuador

Scientists say a new species of giant tortoise has been discovered in the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador, thanks to genetic testing. Ecuadorian scientist Washington Tapia took part in the investigation that identified the new species on the island of Santa Cruz. He called the discovery “great news” because a few years ago Galapagos lost the famed giant tortoise Lonesome George.

Lonesome George died in 2012 and was believed to be the last living member of the Geochelone abigdoni species. One of the factors that sets the new tortoise species apart from others on the island is its shell. Tapia says that in Galapagos there are turtles with shells that have the shape of a dome or mount, but that the new species has a shell that's more like a cone.

The national park said in a statement that the new tortoise was the 15th known species discovered on the archipelago. Four of those are now extinct.