Tortoise
Tortoises were a type of reptile.
The Doctor frequently stated that "sleep was for tortoises". (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang [+]Loading...["The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)"], Knock Knock [+]Loading...["Knock Knock (TV story)"]; PROSE: Timewyrm: Exodus [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Exodus (novel)"], The Scales of Injustice [+]Loading...["The Scales of Injustice (novel)"], Deadly Reunion [+]Loading...["Deadly Reunion (novel)"], The Last Dodo [+]Loading...["The Last Dodo (novel)"]; AUDIO: Other Lives [+]Loading...["Other Lives (audio story)"], Red [+]Loading...["Red (audio story)"], The Mists of Time [+]Loading...["The Mists of Time (audio story)"]; COMIC: In-Between Times [+]Loading...["In-Between Times (comic story)"]) Sherlock Holmes once said it to Dr. John Watson. (PROSE: All-Consuming Fire [+]Loading...["All-Consuming Fire (novel)"])
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Earth[[edit] | [edit source]]
Giant tortoises were native to the Galápagos Islands. In 1835, they were the staple diet of the islands, much to the surprise of Evelyn Smythe. Governor Lawson had eaten tortoise so often that he could identify which island they came from just by their taste. (AUDIO: Bloodtide [+]Loading...["Bloodtide (audio story)"])
In the 26th century, Bernice Summerfield's friend Simon Kyle kept reconstituted Galapagos tortoises as pets. (PROSE: The Highest Science [+]Loading...["The Highest Science (novel)"], Return of the Living Dad [+]Loading...["Return of the Living Dad (novel)"])
Tortoises were among the animals on board the Ark circa 10,000,000. (PROSE: The Ark [+]Loading...["The Ark (novelisation)"])
Elsewhere[[edit] | [edit source]]
The planet Go-Ray was home to at least one species of tortoise or tortoise-like creature, one of which was discovered by John and Gillian. Due to the high levels of cardium on the planet, the tortoise was able to move very rapidly. (COMIC: Enter: The Go-Ray [+]Loading...["Enter: The Go-Ray (comic story)"])
The Third Doctor and Jo Grant once got into a dangerous situation involving a number of giant tortoises which was caused by the Master. After Jo was captured, the Doctor was forced to lower himself down a pit three miles deep and communicate using only his eyes to negotiate for her release. (AUDIO: The Last Fairy Tale [+]Loading...["The Last Fairy Tale (audio story)"])
