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Life expectancy in the wild is thought to be over 100 years, [111] [112] making it one of the longest-lived species in the animal kingdom. Harriet, a specimen kept in Australia Zoo, was the oldest known Galápagos tortoise, having reached an estimated age of more than 170 years before her death in 2006. [113]
Turtle skulls vary in shape, from the long and narrow skulls of softshells to the broad and flattened skull of the mata mata. [25] Some turtle species have developed large and thick heads, allowing for greater muscle mass and stronger bites. [26] Turtles that are carnivorous or durophagous (eating hard-shelled animals) have the most powerful bites.
Per one study, breeding common snapping turtles were found to average 28.5 cm (11.2 in) in carapace length, 22.5 cm (8.9 in) in plastron length and weigh about 6 kg (13 lb). [ 8 ] Males are larger than females, with almost all weighing in excess of 10 kg (22 lb) being male and quite old, as the species continues to grow throughout life. [ 9 ]
The average life span of adult box turtles is 50 years, while a significant portion lives over 100 years. The age of a growing box turtle in the wild cannot be accurately estimated by counting the growth rings on the scutes; Their growth is directly affected by the amount of food, types of food, water, illness, and more. Box turtle eggs are ...
General American usage agrees; turtle is often a general term; tortoise is used only in reference to terrestrial turtles or, more narrowly, only those members of Testudinidae, the family of modern land tortoises; and terrapin may refer to turtles that are small and live in fresh and brackish water, in particular the diamondback terrapin ...
Giant tortoises are among the world's longest-living animals, with an average lifespan of 100 years or more. [14] The Madagascar radiated tortoise Tu'i Malila was 188 at her death in Tonga in 1965.
[203] [204] [205] Painted turtles are long-lived pets, and have a lifespan of up to 40 years in captivity. The painted turtle is sometimes eaten but is not highly regarded as food, [169] [206] [207] as even the largest subspecies, the western painted turtle, is inconveniently small and larger turtles are available. [208]
The bog turtle spends its life almost exclusively in the wetland where it hatched. In its natural environment, it has a maximum lifespan of perhaps 50 years or more, [53] and the average lifespan is 20–30 years. [21] The Bronx Zoo houses several turtles 35 years old or more, the oldest known bog turtles.