The giant tortoise is the longest living species of turtle in the world. Although all turtles are known for having extremely long lifespans, one of them is particularly impressive – namely, the giant tortoise. The giant tortoise is an incredibly fascinating animal that has captured the attention of people around the world.
On occasion, it has been reported that individuals of a few tortoise species have lived in captivity for 100 to 250 years. Jonathan, a giant tortoise hatched in the early 1830s and residing on St. Helena, is the world’s oldest known terrestrial animal.
What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?
Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles with a hard, bony shell, but they have different habitats, sizes, shapes, and diets. Turtles live both in water and on land, have flattened flippers and noses, and are mainly omnivorous. Tortoises live exclusively on land, have domed shells and legs, and are largely vegetarian. The shell of a turtle is attached to the body with muscle, while the tortoise shell is fused to the body.
What is the largest turtle species?
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle species in the world, reaching lengths of up to seven feet and weighing more than two thousand pounds
Here are some interesting facts about leatherback sea turtles:
1) Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven feet long and exceeding 2,000 pounds
2) They are named ‘leatherback’ after their leather-like skin. Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback sea turtle doesn’t have a typical bony shell. Instead, its shell is covered in oily flesh and a leathery-like skin both in texture and appearance
3) Leatherbacks can dive deeper than any other turtle species. They can reach depths of close to 4,000 feet and swim alongside some of the deepest-dwelling creatures on Earth
4) Leatherbacks are one of the oldest reptile species on Earth, dating back more than 100 million years
