How Long Does a Turtle Live? More Than a Century!

The Giant Galapagos turtle is at the seventh spot on the list of the longest-living animals on Earth. It was recorded to live for about 200 years. That’s a huge lifetime to spend. Even though other turtle species don’t have life spans this long, they are longer than most animals.

So, how long does a turtle live? Turtles usually have a lifespan of about 10 years to 150 years. Freshwater turtles, such as mud turtles or map turtles, live up to 20 years. But sea turtles live much longer, up to 100 years or more.

Let’s dive into the enchanting world of turtles and find out everything about their lifespan.

How Long Does a Turtle Live?

There are approximately 356 turtle species in the world. Sea turtles, freshwater turtles, and land turtles are included in the list. Depending on the species, turtles have a different lifespan. So, I will give you a list of how long some common turtle species live. Check it out.

Turtle Species	Lifespan
Box turtle	20-50 years
Map turtle	15-25 years
Red-eared slider turtle	15-30 years
Painted turtle	25-50 years
Mud turtle	10-15 years
Greek tortoise	100+ years
Spotted turtle	100+ years
Alligator snapping turtle	20-70 years
Spiny softshell turtle	40-50 years
Russian tortoise	50-100 years
Leopard tortoise	100+ years
Greek tortoise	100+ years
Leatherback turtles	50-70 years
Green sea turtle	70-90 years
Hawksbill turtle	50-60 years

Why Do Turtles Live So Long?

The answer lies in the lifestyle of turtles. These slow-moving creatures look like they are never in a hurry. Let’s discuss why turtles have one of the longest lifespans among reptiles or all animals.

Their Metabolism Is Slow

As you might already know, turtles have a very low metabolism rate. We, humans, need to eat and drink every few hours. Most animals need to eat at least once a day. But turtles are completely different. These reptiles can live for long days without eating or drinking.

The food or drink they intake is digested slowly inside their stomachs. Due to the slow metabolism, the aging process is extremely slow in turtles. They may sometimes need 25-30 years to reach sexual maturity. So, adulthood comes at an age that many wild animals can’t even survive.

This leads turtles to live for long years. Slow metabolism, slow heart rate, low oxygen consumption, etc., are the main factors behind their slow aging.

Adult Turtles Are Vegetarian

Another common reason behind the long lifespan of turtles is their dietary pattern. Most turtles are herbivores, especially when they are adults. For example, adult green turtles are herbivores. They live on seagrass and other plant-based food.

Giant Galapagos turtles are also strictly herbivores. As these turtle species only eat plant-based food, they are free from the risk of cholesterol and other harmful elements. As a result, turtles can live longer than many other animals, especially carnivores.

Turtles Have Natural Protection

Have you ever hit on the back of a turtle? That shell is tough enough to prevent bites from natural predators. Large turtles with thick shells can even withstand bite forces of up to 1,000 psi or more. 

Such a thick shield around their bodies is the best protection against predators. In the wild, turtles aren’t commonly preyed on by other animals. Due to the protection, turtles can live for a long time. Even smaller turtles enjoy this benefit and can live 20-30 years.

The Reproduction of Turtles Is Slow

Turtles may only breed once in a season. Some turtles breed once every two or three years. For example, sea turtles will breed once every two years. As the reproduction rate is slow, turtles need to live a long time to have enough successful breeds.

There is another obstacle in their reproduction. Due to living in harsh environments, breeding often becomes difficult or unsuccessful for many turtles. So, a longer life gives them more time to breed.

Turtle Life Cycle: From Birth to Death

Even though the lifespan of turtles is much less eventful than other animals, you should understand the distinct differences in various parts of their life. Check their life cycle in brief.

Hatchlings

This stage starts when baby turtles come out of their eggshells. Mommy turtles can lay a few dozens of eggs in a nest. Sea turtles usually lay 110 eggs in the nest. After laying eggs, they go back to the sea.

Turtle eggs take about one or two months to hatch, depending on the temperature. When the eggs are hatched, hatchlings use temporary hooks on their teeth to pierce the shell and come out. The hatchling period of turtles takes 45 to 70 days. 

Unfortunately, many eggs are eaten by other animals. Hatchlings may also be preyed on by predators. You might ask, how long do baby sea turtles stay with their mother? Unfortunately, most baby sea turtles don’t even see their mother because the mother has already left the nest.

Juveniles

Young turtles, for most species, start eating an omnivorous diet. This stage lasts for a few years or decades. Turtles that live shorter have a shorter juvenile stage. For example, box turtles or map turtles may be juveniles up to 5 or 7 years old.

Sea turtles stay juveniles for much longer. Sometimes, it can take up to 20 years for them to reach adulthood.

Adult Turtles

Turtles reach the age of sexual maturity at 7-8 years. Some turtles, like marine turtles, reach the age of sexual maturity much later. For some species, it can take up to 25-35 years. Once turtles reach adulthood, the rest of their life is pretty boring.

Most adult turtles turn into herbivores. They continue eating once in a while and living a lazy life in their natural habitats. During the mating season, turtles will mate with their partners and go back to their habitats. This cycle continues until the turtles become old and eventually die.

Do Pet Turtles Live Longer Than Wild Turtles?

Of course. In the wild, turtles need to withstand harsh environments and stay in search of food. Even though they aren’t stressed about safety or food in the wild, the stress drops to zero in captivity. So, how long do turtles live as pets? It depends on the turtle species, diet, and care.

If you feed a proper diet to a pet turtle and give proper care, the turtle will outlive its wild siblings. A pet turtle can live up to 10 or 20 years more than wild turtles. For common turtle species, like painted turtles or map turtles, the difference in lifespan may be about 10 years.

But if you have a pet turtle that naturally lives for a long time, its lifespan can increase much more in captivity. If kept in zoos or parks, large turtles can live 20-30 years longer than they normally live in the wild.

Longest Lifespan of Various Turtle Species

Some turtles set an example of lifespan that can awe you. Here is a list of some of those turtles.

• Sea Turtles: As sea turtles aren’t common in captivity, it is difficult to verify their age. However, a leatherback sea turtle was found in the UK to be about 100 years old. 
• Snapping Turtles: Alligator snapping turtles are the longest-living species in this category. The oldest snapping turtle in the world was Thunder, and it lived for about 150 years.
• Tortoise: These are land turtles. The oldest tortoise in the world is Jonathan. It has been alive for 191 years.

How to Increase the Turtle Lifespan?

If you have a pet turtle, focusing on a few factors is crucial for increasing its lifespan. 

1. Diet: You have to provide enough plant-based food and pellets to meet their nutritional demands.
2. Temperature: Turtles are most comfortable at about 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. You should maintain this temperature properly.
3. Care and Treatment: Besides keeping the turtle healthy, you should provide proper treatment if necessary.

Conclusion

Turtles are one of the most wondrous animals in the world and also one of the longest-living animals. So, how long does a turtle live? A common freshwater turtle can live for about 10-30 years. Sea turtles usually live much longer, for about 50-100 years. 

Some turtles can even live up to 150 years or more. The lifespan depends on multiple factors, including metabolism, protective shell, etc. Pet turtles tend to live much longer because they have fewer risks than wild turtles. If you want to get one as a pet, prepare to commit for a lifetime.