Tortoises are among the world’s longest-living reptiles, and different specimens of this animal have been recorded to live for centuries even!Tortoises are reptiles, meaning that they have low body temperatures and slow metabolisms, which makes them more likely to live longer lives. So let’s learn all about tortoises and how long they live for!Tortoises also tend to live longer in captivity than in the wild, as they are fed better quality food and kept in better conditions, which impacts their health positively. Many of the longest-living tortoises were either kept in zoos or research facilities, where they were taken the best care of. To learn more about these amazing tortoises and how long they lived, read on!If you enjoyed this article, you can check out our other pages on Blackbanded Sunfish and animals with adaptations.Different Types Of TortoisesThere are around 49 different species of tortoise in the world, ranging from the speckled tortoise, who measure from 2.4-3.9 in (6-10 cm) in length to the Galapagos tortoise which can weigh up to 919 lb (417 kg)! Technically, tortoises belong to the same family as turtles, of which there are over 300 species! They both belong to the reptile family Testudinidae. The terms tortoise and turtle are also used interchangeably at times.The average Galapagos tortoise can weigh between 330-550 lb (150-249 kg), and measures between 48-60 in (1.2-1.5 m).So why exactly do these reptiles live so long? Pet tortoises live for longer than wild ones with proper care, however, even those in the wild have been living slow, peaceful lives for many decades.The factors behind the longevity of tortoises are mostly their slow metabolism and low body temperature. Being reptiles, they are cold-blooded in nature and can survive extreme temperature changes. Their hard shell coverings have evolved over time to protect them from most predators, who are unable to penetrate their natural body armor. Their long lives are also important in helping their reproduction, as spending most of their lives in extreme conditions leaves them unable to do so. Living for such a long time provides them with more opportunities to mate and produce offspring.If taking care of a pet tortoise, make sure not to handle it too much, as this can lead to stress which could cause poor health. Stress is dangerous as it makes tortoises fearful, and they can stop eating and show reclusive behavior which will cut down their lifespans quite significantly.Some of the longest living tortoise species are the Galapagos islands tortoise, the Spur-thighed tortoise, Leopard tortoise, Indian star tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, Russian tortoise and Marginated tortoise. These can comfortably live for more than 50 years in the wild, and very likely cross 100 years of age as well!Animals With Incredibly Long Life SpansBesides tortoises, there are a number of other animals on Earth that have incredibly long lifespans - some of which are even longer than those of us humans!Asian Elephants - Asian elephants have an average lifespan of 60 years, however, the longest living elephant was one that lived till 86 years of age! Lin Wang, an Asian elephant living in Taiwan, even played an important role during World War 2, ferrying supplies through Maynmar for the Japanese Army. In fact, he was captured by the Chinese in 1943 and lived out his remaining years in the Taipei Zoo where he breathed his last in 2006. The oldest living elephants who have a chance at outlining Lin Wang are Ambika, a 64-year-old female living in the National Zoo in the United States, and Hanako, who is 65 years old and thriving at Inokashira Park Zoo in Japan. African elephants, a close cousin of the Asian elephants, have similarly long lifespans with the average being 70 years!Bowhead Whale - Though a century may seem like a lot for humans, and even tortoises, it’s merely the halfway point in the life of a bowhead whale! These whales are said to live longer than other animals because of their incredibly low body temperatures, and the lower an animal’s body heat is, the longer it’s likely to live for! Also known as the Arctic whale, this species is found only in the Arctic and subarctic waters. The oldest specimen ever was calculated to be around 211 years old, and extensive research done by scientists has bought us to the belief that the longest possible lifespan for these whales sits at 268 years!Greenland Shark - These sharks, found in the North Atlantic Ocean, are truly enormous. They have been found to grow as large as 21 ft (6.4 m), and weigh up to 2100 lb (1000 kg)! These sharks are quite elusive and stick to the deeper reaches of the ocean, which is why they are rarely seen by humans. In fact, these freezing cold depths are probably one of the reasons why these sharks live for so long, and their lifespan has been calculated to be between 252-512 years, with the most likely average being 390! Now that’s a really long life!Red Sea Urchin - These mysterious sea creatures and thought to be immortal and have only been observed to die in cases related to being eaten by predators or illness. It is assumed that Red Sea urchins’ bodies do not break down naturally over time like those of other animals, which makes it possible for them to live forever! Their age also has no effect on their reproductive capabilities, and urchins which are decades of years old are able to reproduce as well as newly developed ones. The average lifespan for these is thought to be 200 years old, though specimens that are hundreds of years old have also been found.Koi Fish - Though their average lifespan is 40 years, with the right care and conditions these fish can live for decades! Many pet Koi fish die due to extreme changes in temperatures, improper food or negligence, and fish that are properly cared for can live very long lives. The longest living Koi fish was named Hanako, and was 226 years old when she died in 1977!Oldest Tortoises In The WorldThere have been many documented tortoises over the course of history, all of which have lived close to around 100 years! Here are some of the more famous ones.Jonathon - The present oldest living Tortoise in the world, this Seychelles giant tortoise is around 188 years and counting! He was first thrust into the limelight at the tender young age of 50, when he was gifted to the Governor of the island of Saint Helena. He still resides on the island, and has a dedicated team caring for him, who make sure that he is being fed a proper diet and being given the best care in order to keep him in top shape!Adwaita - The oldest tortoise to have lived ever was an Aldabra Giant Tortoise, who was brought up in Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata, India. He was brought to India way back in 1750 from the Seychelles islands as a gift for Lord Clive and lived blissfully in his gardens before being moved to the Zoo. He lived for around 250 years and would have probably lived for more if his shell hadn’t unfortunately cracked in 2005, which led to his flesh becoming severely infected, because of which he died in 2006. Adwaita is the only recorded tortoise to have crossed the 200 years old mark, with most giant tortoise specimens only living between 80-100 years.Tu’i Malila - Though not the oldest living tortoise in the world, this radiated tortoise holds the title according to the Guinness Book of World records. He hatched around 1777 and was then gifted to the royal family of Tonga where he lived a rich, pampered life., surviving till the ripe old age of 188 years After his death in 1965, he was taxidermied, with his body on display at the Tongan National Center on Tongatapu.Harriet - One of the most famous tortoises in existence because of her connection with Charles Darwin, this giant female Galapagos land tortoise was brought to England in 1860, and eventually made her way to Australia where she lived until her death in 2006. She spent her last days at the Australian Zoo, under the care of famous zookeeper Steve Irwin. She was around 175 years old at the time of her death.Lonesome George - Though not the oldest tortoise by any means, George is one of the most famous as he was the last of his species, the Pinta Island tortoise. Many efforts were made to revive this species of tortoise by having male George mate with females of similar species - unfortunately, none of the eggs bore offspring. He was also a popular symbol of the Galapagos island restoration efforts, and after his death in 2012 was taxidermied and put on display at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where he spent the majority of his life. He was estimated to be between 80-100 years old at the time of his death.Oldest Reptiles In The WorldThough tortoises are among the oldest and most healthy reptiles in the world, there are a few other reptiles that are able to live almost as long as well because of their cold-blooded bodies. Here is a list of some of these animals.Giant tortoise - This tortoise species has an average lifespan of over 150 years, and they are among the largest as well, with their mean weight being around 550 lb (250 kg)! The longest living tortoise ever, Adwaita, was an Aldabra giant tortoise, who died at the glorious age of 250 years old!Tuatara - These magnificent reptiles of New Zealand are quite resilient, and have been known to live for over 100 years at a time! Though their average lifespan is around 60 years, many individuals have crossed the 100 mark, and have even given birth to babies at this ripe age! Their long lifespans and minimal change in their bodies form millions of years ago (they do in fact have quite primitive bodies), have led to them being given the name ’living fossils’! The oldest Tuatara known to have children was Henry of Southland Museum in New Zealand - who became a father at 111 years old! His mate was not much younger either, Midred was around 80 when she laid 11 eggs, all of which bore healthy young offspring.Nile crocodile - These freshwater crocodiles are the largest freshwater predators in Africa, and tend to live for between 45-100 years of age! The oldest specimen ever was named Henry, who lived for 117 years!Green Sea turtle - Living for well over 80 years, Green sea turtles are the second largest turtles in the world, and though mysterious like all turtle species have been estimated to be among the longest living reptiles ever. Their diets change as they grow, with juveniles feeding mostly on jellyfish, crabs, and fish, while adults are herbivorous and eat only seaweed and algae.Other animals on the list are the American alligator, Snapping turtle, and Common Caiman, all of which live for well over 50 years in the wild!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! 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Tortoises are among the world’s longest-living reptiles, and different specimens of this animal have been recorded to live for centuries even!
