How long do turtles live?
Many turtles live for decades. Pet turtles often live 20 to 40 years, sea turtles can live 50 years or more and giant tortoises can live well over 100 years.
Turtles grow slowly and mature late, and their protective shells help them survive predators. Box turtles can live more than 50 years, and some reach 100. Sea turtles may take 20 to 30 years just to reach adulthood.
Giant tortoises from the Galápagos Islands and Aldabra, in the Seychelles, are famous for their long lives. Many have been recorded living longer than 100 years, especially in protected settings.
Turtles and tortoises
All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Tortoises live on land and have domed shells and sturdy legs, while many turtles spend much of their lives in water and have flatter shells and webbed feet or flippers.
Many turtle species are endangered because of habitat loss, pollution and the pet trade. Six of the seven sea turtle species are listed as threatened, partly because their eggs and nesting beaches face many dangers.
Did You Know?
A turtle's shell is part of its skeleton, including its ribs and spine, so a turtle can never crawl out of its shell.