The average human lifespan hovers just under 80 years, which may seem like a long time—until you compare it to some of the champions of longevity in the animal kingdom. Certain species can outlive us many times over. The Greenland shark, for example, may glide through icy waters for more than 400 years. Bowhead whales, koi fish, and red sea urchins are also known to live for centuries. Even a humble clam, the ocean quahog, has been documented to survive for more than 500 years, making it one of the oldest living animals ever recorded.
Among these long-lived creatures, turtles and tortoises hold a special place. They have fascinated people for centuries with their slow, steady pace of life and remarkable lifespans. How long do turtles live? If you recall Crush the sea turtle’s iconic line in Disney’s Finding Nemo—“Hundred and fifty, dude, and still young. Rock on!”—you’ve already got a clue. And he wasn’t exaggerating. Many turtles and tortoises can, in fact, live well beyond 150 years, with some record-breaking individuals reaching even greater ages.
In the sections ahead, we’ll explore the extraordinary longevity of these reptiles, looking at some of the longest-lived turtle species on Earth and highlighting a few legendary individuals that have become symbols of endurance and survival.
