Many tortoises were alive today that were also around during the time of Charles Darwin and one tortoise just recently made history for being the oldest of its kind and the oldest land animal that has ever lived. But even though giant tortoises are known for their long life, other animals stay alive for decades or even a century.
Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, believed to be the oldest reptile living on earth with and alleged age of 185 years, crawls through the lawn of the Plantation House, the United Kingdom Governor official residence on October 20, 2017 in Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Oldest Living Tortoise Ever
On January 12, Guinness World Records announced that Jonathan aged 190 years old is the oldest tortoise that has ever lived on Earth. The giant tortoise was estimated to have been born in 1832, which means it was born even before Queen Victoria ascended to the British throne in 1837.
According to Live Science, Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) and is a Guinness World Record holder for the oldest living land animal. But now he becomes the oldest living tortoise after beating the previous record-holder Tu'i Malila, a radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiate), who was 188 years old when it died in 1965.
Joe Hollins, Jonathan's veterinarian, told the officials of Guinness that the giant tortoise is a local icon and serves as a symbol of persistence in the face of change. Officials at the British Museum in London said that Jonathan first arrived in St. Helena, where he is currently staying, in 1882 when he was about 50 years old.
Jonathan is has become blind and unable to smell during his twilight years, but he still grazes on the ground at St. Helena where he lives with fellow tortoises, Emma, David, and Ford. But they have caretakers that feed them once a week to make sure they have enough calories.
His caretakers said that his favorite activities this time are eating, sleeping, and mating. "In spite of his age, Jonathan still has good libido and is seen frequently to mate with Emma and sometimes Fred - animals are often not particularly gender-sensitive!" Live Science quoted Hollins.
Scientists are not sure yet on the processes that allow giant tortoises to live for so long, but previous studies showed that their cells kill off damaged cells quickly in a process called apoptosis. But even though giant tortoises are unmatched on land, creatures in waters live far longer than them, such as the Greenland sharks that have an estimated maximum life span of 272 years.
ALSO READ: Greenland Sharks Live Hundreds of Years; Can These Sharks Teach Humans How to Live Long?
Land Animals That Live the Longest
Aside from giant tortoises, Trivia Genius also listed other land animals that also boast a long life are the tuatara liard that could live 60 years and even beyond 100 years. The most famous tuatara lizard is Henry who is estimated to be between 110-120 years old.
Meanwhile, crocodiles and alligators that have not evolved much can also live 70 to 100 years. Also, Asian and African elephants can live up to 60 and 70 years, respectively. Other land animals that have impressive longevity records are the following:
- Chimpanzees - 33 to 45 years old
- Gorillas- 30 to 40 years old
- American alligators- 50 years old in the wild, although the oldest living alligator is said to have lived up to 83 years old.
- Macaws- 60 to 80 years old
RELATED ARTICLE: Giant Tortoise Still Roams Galapagos Islands After Being Thought to be Extinct 100 Years Ago
Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.
