What is the age of the oldest turtle in the world. Where does the oldest turtle in the world live?

Nature knows how to surprise people. Some of the most unusual creatures on the planet - these are turtles. Individuals can reach gigantic size and shock you with just its appearance. The Guinness Book of Records notes particularly outstanding ones. Who are these record holders, and how much does the world's largest turtle weigh? In this article turtles.

Top 5 largest turtles in the world

All turtles are different, and even within the same species, their sizes can vary significantly from each other.

1. Leatherback turtle(Lat. Dermochelys coriacea). Average length- 2 meters. The Guinness Book of Records included in its lists the dimensions of the largest individual: 2.6 m - shell diameter and 916 kg - total body weight. The span of the front flippers is 5 m.

Such outstanding parameters, according to scientists, were achieved due to permanent life in water. The habitats of these turtles are: southern seas. Coming to land only to lay eggs, they feel at ease at great depths and can swim at a speed of almost 35 km/h. There are suggestions that the largest specimens of leatherback turtles simply have not yet been seen, since they rarely rise from the seabed.

A distinctive feature of this type of turtle is the absence of a bone, hard covering of the shell. Their back is covered with skin, and the ability to hide in a shell is lost. This makes turtles vulnerable to humans and very shy.

It is believed that this type of reptile existed on the planet long before the appearance of humans. Due to their impressive size and still unexplored life, leatherback turtles are heroes of fairy tales and legends.

On this moment These turtles are protected by the state as an endangered species. A special reserve was opened in the USA to preserve the numbers of these unusual reptiles.

(lat. Chelonia mydas). The body reaches 1.5 m in length and weight - 500 kg. Average duration life - 70 years. Lives in the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. It got its name because of its light green, olive color.

It feeds on crabs, snails, sponges and jellyfish, switching to algae and grass with age. It does not pose a danger to humans.

This type of sea turtle sometimes leaves the water to lay eggs or soak up the sun. It is also called “soup” because most delicate taste meat and using it for cooking. Turtle eggs are very popular, and the shells are used to make crafts and souvenirs. However, it is listed in the Red Book, and catching individuals is punishable by law. Currently it is an endangered species.

(lat. Chelonoidis elephantopus). It reaches 2 meters in length and weighs, on average, 350 kg. There are 16 subspecies of this turtle. Distinctive feature– long elongated neck and paws. It feeds on vegetation, drinks a lot of water, and in dry periods switches to cacti and shrubs, which are poisonous to other animals. Elephant turtles are not dangerous to humans.

They are land-dwelling and live only on the Galapagos Islands. They are long-lived among reptiles of this species, living on average 90 - 100 years. There are representatives who have lived up to 300 years.

At the moment, elephant turtles are on the verge of extinction. The Galapagos Islands are declared a nature reserve, a national park and are protected by UNESCO.

(lat. Macroclemys temminckii). The length can reach 1.5 meters, the shell is 1.4 m. It lives in rivers and canals of the southern USA. This is one of the lightest turtles in terms of weight: their weight does not exceed 60 kg. Moreover, it is the largest among land turtles.

Life expectancy is short compared to others - only 60 years.

Another feature of this species: the aggressiveness of the animal. Even her appearance can inspire fear: a large head, a pointed nose, similar to a beak, all the skin is uneven and pimply. May bite, bite off a finger, or injure a hand. In the USA, this type of turtle is recognized as dangerous to human life and health and is prohibited for breeding in a house or apartment.

(lat. Aldabrachelys gigantea) - very rare view turtles. Also because large sizes it is called a giant turtle. On average, the body length is 1.2 m. Refers to land turtles. It feeds on fresh greens, grass and vegetables. The only habitat on the planet is the islands of Aldabra and Curieuse in the Seychelles group. The colony of Seychelles turtles numbers about 150 thousand individuals.

On average, these turtles reach an age of 150 - 200 years. Advaita is the oldest representative who lived 250 years, and this is an absolute record.

Modern types of turtles, such as the green or leatherback, are powerful, hardy and can accommodate 5 people on their shell at once. These giants can live without food for several weeks and even months. Cases of them fasting for a year are described. Green turtles are known among sailors for their ability to sense and predict the slightest tectonic movements, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Scientists have discovered a huge turtle that lived in Cretaceous period BC, similar in structure to the leatherback turtles of our time. It was even given the name Archelon and was recognized as the largest since the appearance of life on Earth. The dimensions are impressive: with a total length of 4.6 meters, it weighed more than 2 tons. The remains of this turtle were discovered in North America.

Another giant reptile that is considered extinct is Myolania. In addition to its large size, it is known for its long body (up to 5 m) and the presence of two horns unusual shape. It lived in Australia and New Caledonia and on the coasts of rivers and lakes, feeding on vegetation. Scientists suggest that the meat of Myolaniya was extremely valuable in its composition, pleasant and delicate in taste, which became the reason for the destruction of the species. The last turtle of this species became extinct about 2,000 years ago.

Thanks to excavations by scientists, the turtle, its size and parameters are known today. Archelon inspires fear and respect for the power of nature and its capabilities. Man is just beginning to uncover the secrets and mysteries of all life on Earth, and perhaps someday this record of the largest turtle will be broken.

There are old-timers among both people and animals. Turtles are considered the most prone to long life, especially if they live in ideal conditions– acceptable climate, abundant and healthy diet, communication with relatives. What is the oldest turtle on the planet?

Samira

This animal belonged to the Galapagos tortoise breed. She lived to be 270 years old (according to other sources - 315), dying in 2006 in the Cairo Zoo, as they say, of old age. Samira was donated to the park by the last king of the state, Farouk, who has a weakness for exotic animals. At the end of her life, Samira practically did not move.

Advaita

The second most old turtle in the world belonged to a species native to the Seychelles and lived for approximately 250 years. Back in the 19th century, English soldiers delivered it from Seychelles and presented to Lord Clive before he went home in 1867. Earlier, in the middle of the 18th century, the lord was sent to India with the aim of establishing a colonial regime there. During his absence, the animal lived in the palace garden. In 1875, it was decided to place it in the Calcutta Zoo (although there is still no official confirmation that this is the same turtle).

In March 2006, the reptile was found dead by zoo staff. This was predictable, since Advaita had been feeling unwell for a couple of days before this. The impressive shell was preserved as a memory of the favorite of several generations of townspeople. Later, an examination was carried out to accurately determine the age of the turtle.

The exact name of the Advaita variety was "aldabra", in accordance with the atoll of the same name. This UN-protected site is home to another 150,000 of these turtles. Average weight the animal weighs 120 kg.

Tui Malila

According to legend, this Madagascar radiated tortoise was presented by Captain James Cook to the head of the Aborigines of Tonga in 1773. There is no official evidence of this, but if you believe it, it turns out that at the time of her death in 1966 she was 193 years old. By this point, she was already blind and could barely eat, so zookeepers had to move her mouth directly to the feeder.

Jonathan

This huge, imposing Seychelles tortoise was brought to St. Helena in 1882 along with three other specimens, each approximately 50 years old. Jonathan, now 185 years old, lives in the garden of the home of the island's governor, Spencer Davis. In 1900, a photograph was taken of a huge turtle lying at the feet of a Boer War prisoner. In 2008, confirmation was published that this particular turtle was Jonathan, who at that time was about 70 years old.

Harietta

At one time, an elephant tortoise named Garietta was included in the Guinness Book of Records for his long life– in 2005 she was 175 years old, all of which she spent in captivity. It is not known exactly who caught her; according to one version, it was Charles Darwin, according to another - ordinary whalers.

For the last 30 years of its life, the animal was a real attraction at the Queensland Zoo.

IN wildlife, according to scientists, only a dozen of its brothers remain.

It should be noted that the population could have been larger if Harietta had not been caught: until the end of her life she was capable of fertilization, but did not have a partner.

Favorite food amazing turtle there were hibiscus, and she also loved to eat eggplant and parsley, and was generally quite unpretentious and modest. Zoo workers talk about this.

Timothy

In April 2004, another of the honored long-lived turtles died. At that time, Timothy was 160 years old. He spent amazing life, serving as a mascot on a British warship, then sailed with soldiers to China and East India, and retired 100 years before his death. All this time, the turtle was crawling in the garden around Powderham Castle, located in Devon, and during hibernation hiding among the rose bushes. Then a sign was attached to it asking not to disturb. In 1926, all fans of the turtle were waiting for unexpected surprise: Turns out Timothy was a female. In general, we can say that the animal led a rather active lifestyle compared to other relatives and peers.

These are the amazing animals that lived and continue to live on our planet. I would like to believe that all representatives of the animal world will be just as lucky with their living conditions so that they can lead a long, fruitful life.

Mother Nature amazes us all the time. Most surprising of all are the facts about the longevity of creatures. Turtles are among the ten most ancient creatures living on land. They have inhabited the planet for 220 million years. Among them there are also long-lived turtles, whose age has exceeded a hundred years.

There are amazing animals on Earth whose age is simply amazing. But not all records of centenarians have been documented.

There is information that sheds light on how old the oldest turtle is: Samira, who lived a little over three centuries. Although such a statement is controversial, since it has not been documented.

Here is a list of the longest living turtles in the world:

Name	View	Age (in years)
Samira	Galapagos	270-315
Advaita	Seychelles	150-255
Tui Malila	Madagascar radiata	189-192
Jonathan	Seychelles	183
Harietta	ivory	175
Timothy	Mediterranean	160
Kiki	gigantic	146

Of all those listed, only Jonathan, the Seychelles giant tortoise, is alive today.

Samira

This oldest turtle in the world has graduated life path in Egypt (Cairo) at a very respectable age. According to some sources, she was 270 years old at that moment, according to others - all 315. Last years This old animal has already stopped moving independently.

In 1891, the reptile was given to the zoo by King Farouk, the last monarch of Egypt.

Advaita

Before his departure to India, Lord Robert Clive was given this exotic animal by British soldiers returning from the Seychelles in 1767.

The reptile first lived in the garden of the lord's house. Then, after his death in 1875, she was taken to the Alipore Zoological Garden in Calcutta. But there was no evidence that it was Advaita that the soldiers presented to the lord.

The animal died in 2006. It is assumed that she lived a little more than a quarter of a millennium - 255 years. To prove this fact, it was decided to preserve her shell. Zoo workers plan to use an examination to establish the exact age of the reptile.

Tui Malila

The age that this long-lived turtle has reached is a Guinness record. Although in this case the exact age of the reptile could not be established.

According to unconfirmed documentary information, in 1773 it was presented as a gift to the native leader by Captain Cook himself. Tui Malila ended up on the island of Tonga.

The preserved body of Tui Malila is currently on display at the Tongan National Center on Tongatapu.

Assuming it was a one-year-old turtle, it would have been 192 years old at the time of its death in 1966. But there is information that the leader received the animal a little later. Then the record holder lived to be 189 years old.

IN Lately Malila stopped moving completely and could no longer see anything. She only ate what was put directly in her mouth. The patterns on the shell darkened, it became almost one color - almost black.

Jonathan

This giant tortoise was transported from the Seychelles in company with three others in 1882 and presented to the governor of St. Helena. The animals were about half a century old at this time.

This conclusion was reached due to the rather large size of their shells. The evidence is a photograph taken around 1886-1900, in which Jonathan was photographed with two men. The picture clearly shows that the reptile is quite large, its shell is the size of a small table. Because of this, they decided that the turtle was half a century old at the time of the move.

Jonathan - Seychelles giant tortoise

In 1930, the then-current governor of the island, Spencer Davis, decided to name the almost century-old male. So the oldest of all creatures currently living on the planet still lives in the official residence of the island’s governor.

In 2019, Jonathan will celebrate his 183rd birthday. He is still quite vigorous and active, although sometimes he shows old-age intolerance. It happens that a long-liver, who considers himself the rightful owner of the territory of the Plantation House, will overturn all the benches in the yard and snort at the people doing work on the site and caring for the old-timer.

Jonathan's image appears on the five penny coins of St Helena. He is a frequent hero of television shows and magazine articles.

Harriet (Harietta)

Thirteen years ago (2006), at the age of 176, this centenarian died of a heart attack at the Australia Zoo. She was born presumably in 1830 on one of the islands of the Galapagos archipelago.

In the company of two more individuals of the same species. The turtles were about five years old. This was determined by the size of their shells - they were no larger than a plate. The future centenarian was mistakenly mistaken for a male and named Harry.

C. Darwin's Tortoise - Harietta

In 1841-1952 reptiles lived in Australia in Brisbane city botanical garden. Then Harry was then transported to protected area on the coast of the country. It is unknown where the other two turtles went.

This is Jonathan, he is 184 years old, (photo: earthphotos.com)

Meet her, whose name is Jonathan. She recently turned 184, making her the oldest known land animal in the world. Jonathan lives on the island of St. Helena in the southern part Atlantic Ocean. He is extremely famous in his homeland and can be said to be an integral part of the local community. Therefore, home for oldest turtle in the world serves as Plantation House, the official residence of the governor.

The age of this giant turtle is documented, and there are even photographs of it hundred years ago! For example, here is a photograph of Jonathan taken on St. Helena back in 1902. Next to it, for comparison, is his photo from 2015:

(photo: imgur)

Jonathan has lost his sight due to cataracts, and he can no longer smell, but otherwise feels quite normal. His health is being monitored by local veterinarian Dr. Joe Hollinse. Interesting fact: the most ancient turtle has never washed herself, so she can also be considered the dirtiest animal in the world. So Dr. Hollinse gave Jonathan the first bath of his life, washing off all the dirt that had accumulated on it for almost 200 years.

How she was bathed:

Some photos of almost two-hundred-year-old Jonathan: