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Jonathan (hatched c. 1832) [2] [3] is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea).His approximate age is estimated to be 192 as of 2025, making him the oldest known living land animal.
The other four species are Hermann's tortoise (T. hermanni), the Egyptian tortoise (T. kleinmanni), the marginated tortoise (T. marginata), and the Russian tortoise (A. horsfieldii). The Greek tortoise is a very long-lived animal, achieving a lifespan upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports up to 200 years. [4]
In February 2020, the Galápagos National Park, along with the Galápagos Conservancy, reported that a female tortoise was directly related to the species that Lonesome George was a part of. This female was among thirty tortoises that were found to be related to two species that are considered extinct. [34]
The world’s oldest tortoise has lived through two world wars, witnessed the rise and fall of the British Empire, and has just turned 190 years old.
These tortoises may attain a length of 25 to 36 cm (10 to 14 in), [12] with males being slightly larger than females. A male tortoise has a longer gular horn than a female, his plastron (lower shell) is concave compared to a female tortoise. Males have larger tails than females do.
The tortoises grow faster when there is more rainfall and slower when there is less. [6] They reach sexual maturity after 10 to 15 years. In captivity their life span is around 54 years. In the wild their lifespan is unknown but is believed to exceed 75 years. [10] [6] The tortoise has no known predators when they are hatchlings or adults. [6]
The Duke of Edinburgh has encountered the world’s oldest living land animal – Jonathan the 191-year-old giant tortoise. ... with Charles III the eighth monarch of his lifespan so far.
The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and genus Aldabrachelys. The species is endemic to the Seychelles , with the nominate subspecies , A. g. gigantea native to Aldabra atoll.