Turtles have fascinated humans for centuries with their slow movements, protective shells, and incredibly long lifespans. If you’re looking for the turtle species with the longest confirmed lifespan, read on to uncover the methuselahs of the turtle world.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: the Aldabra giant tortoise is confirmed to have lived over 250 years in captivity, making it the longest living turtle species.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is one of the longest-living turtle species in the world, with lifespans exceeding 250 years. These gentle giants are native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles Islands and have flourished on the remote, uninhabited islands for thousands of years.
However, they are now classified as a vulnerable species due to threats from invasive species and habitat loss.
Lifespan Over 250 Years
Aldabra giant tortoises are known to live well over two centuries. Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise that lived in the Alipore Zoological Gardens of India, set the record for the longest living tortoise when he died at an estimated age of 255 years old in 2006.
Researchers determine the age of tortoises by counting growth rings on their shells, similar to counting tree rings. The oldest known wild Aldabra giant tortoise is thought to be around 188 years old.
These tortoises have such long lifespans due to their slow metabolisms and sturdy health. Their herbivorous diet of grasses, leaves, and berries provides antioxidants. Their slow pace of life reduces cell damage.
Their thick shells and ability to retract their head and legs provide excellent protection. Aldabra giant tortoises typically remain active and reproductive well past 100 years old. Their long lives give them more opportunities to pass down beneficial genes to offspring, contributing to the longevity of the species.
Native to the Seychelles Islands
Aldabra giant tortoises are native to the Aldabra island group of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Aldabra is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls. The lush grasslands and scrubby vegetation of the islands provide an ideal habitat for the tortoises to thrive.
Research indicates Aldabra giant tortoises arrived at the islands about 100,000 years ago, most likely floating over from Madagascar on natural rafts during storms or tsunamis. They became genetically isolated and evolved to their massive sizes due to a lack of natural predators on the remote islands.
Adults can weigh over 550 lbs (250 kg) with carapace lengths exceeding 47 inches (120 cm).
Today, the Seychelles Islands have the largest population of Aldabra giant tortoises in the world at over 100,000. The Aldabran islands host the majority of wild tortoises, though some now inhabit private nature reserves on other Seychelles islands after being introduced by traders and pirates in the past few centuries.
Vulnerable Species
The Aldabra giant tortoise is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These long-living reptiles were once slaughtered in large numbers for their meat, oil, and shells. Though hunting has ceased, the species faces ongoing threats.
Habitat loss is a concern as development encroaches on protected lands. Invasive plant species like guava outcompete native vegetation. Introduced predators like rats attack the vulnerable hatchlings. Climate change may impact the tortoises’ nesting patterns and food resources.
Conservation programs aim to protect existing habitat, control non-native species, and boost hatchling survival. Public education and ecotourism help promote awareness and funding for conservation efforts.
With the continued dedication of conservationists and protection policies, the remarkable Aldabra giant tortoise may continue plodding along for many centuries to come.
Galápagos Tortoise
Estimated Lifespan Over 170 Years
The Galápagos tortoise is one of the longest living species on Earth, with an estimated lifespan of over 170 years! These gentle giants have been known to live over 150 years in captivity, but some individuals may have exceeded 200 years in the wild.
Their extreme longevity is likely due to a slow metabolic rate and low levels of activity. Galápagos tortoises grow slowly, taking 15-25 years to reach sexual maturity. They tend to live solitary lives, coming together only briefly for mating.
With no natural predators on the Galápagos Islands, their long lifespan allows them to outlive most threats.
According to Guinness World Records, the oldest known Galápagos tortoise was Harriet, an Australia Zoo resident who died in 2006 at an estimated age of 175 years old! She was collected from the Galápagos Islands in the 1830s by Charles Darwin, living through the reign of five British monarchs before her death.
Charles Darwin’s Encounter
The famous naturalist Charles Darwin had a historic encounter with Galápagos tortoises during his voyage on the HMS Beagle in 1835. He collected several specimens which were taken back to England, helping Darwin formulate his theories of evolution.
Darwin noticed subtle variations between tortoises from different islands, which later led him to develop the theory of natural selection. The Galápagos tortoises played a pivotal role in some of most important scientific discoveries of the modern era.
Today, the Charles Darwin Research Center on Santa Cruz Island works to preserve the iconic species that Darwin encountered nearly 200 years ago. Visitors can see breeding programs and interpretive exhibits highlighting Darwin’s discoveries.
Once Abundant, Now Endangered
It’s estimated that over 250,000 Galápagos tortoises once populated the islands, but their numbers were quickly decimated in the 1800s due to over-harvesting by whalers and buccaneers who visited the islands.
Galápagos tortoises were an easy source of fresh meat, as they could survive on ships for long periods without food or water. Hundreds of thousands were killed for their meat, oil, and shells.
Today, the total wild population is estimated at less than 25,000. The IUCN Red List classifies the Galápagos tortoise as Vulnerable, and they are considered a Conservation Priority Species by the Galápagos National Park.
Conservation efforts including captive breeding, invasive species control, and habitat restoration offer hope that these iconic giants will lumber across the Galápagos for centuries to come.
Blanding’s Turtle
Oldest Captive Was Over 75 Years Old
The longest living Blanding’s turtle in captivity reached at least 75 years of age. This elderly female was being studied at the Powdermill Nature Reserve in Pennsylvania when scientists determined her minimum age based on counting the growth rings on her shell, similar to counting tree rings.
Amazingly, the geriatric turtle was still laying eggs even in her 70s.
In the wild, Blanding’s turtles are estimated to live 80-100+ years. Their extreme longevity is aided by their defensive armor-like shells and habitat preferences for placid wetlands and shallow waters where they face limited predators.
Their long lifespans also contribute to late sexual maturity, not breeding until at least 14-20 years old.
Native to Central North America
The natural range of Blanding’s turtle extends from the Great Lakes region and southern Ontario west to Nebraska, and south to Missouri and northeastern Illinois. They prefer freshwater marshes, ponds, and other calm wetlands surrounded by forests.
These habitats provide ample food sources like insects, aquatic vegetation, snails, slugs and fish eggs while also offering the muddy bottoms and still waters suiting their lifestyle.
Within their home territories, Blanding’s turtles utilize vernal pools for overwintering due to the lack of fish that would feed on hatchlings. They may migrate up to a few kilometers seasonally between nesting sites, summer feeding pools and winter hibernacula.
Classified as Threatened
While the long-living Blanding’s turtle once numbered in the millions, loss of wetland habitat and increasing road mortalities have caused steep declines. They now qualify for threatened conservation status across much of their range.
These turtles fall victim to vehicles while migrating over land, while habitat loss also continues reducing population numbers.
Conservation Status | Population Trend |
Endangered in Illinois & Missouri | Declining at 2.3% annually in Midwest |
Threatened in Indiana & Nebraska | 90% losses documented in Great Lakes region |
Various efforts are underway to sustain remaining populations of Blanding’s turtles. These include habitat restoration projects in national wildlife refuges and partnerships between conservation groups and landowners protecting wetland areas.
turtle crossing signs and under-road tunnels are also being implemented in migration hotspots. With luck and continued conservation initiatives, North America’s long-lived freshwater turtles may continue plodding along for centuries to come.
Conclusion
While a few individual Aldabra and Galápagos giant tortoises have been documented to live over 150 years in captivity, the longest reliably confirmed lifespan for a turtle belongs to an Aldabra giant tortoise that died at an estimated 255 years old in 2006.
As these ancient reptiles continue to fascinate researchers, more very long-lived individuals may yet be uncovered.