Oldest animal on Earth that ever lived: a Galapagos tortoise - 175, 255, 315, 400 years-old?

If we except Sponges and Corals, the oldest animal that ever lived on Earth is probably a Galapagos tortoise.

Giant Galapagos tortoise "Harriet" died in her enclosure on June 23, 2006, and she was 175 years-old; she was known to be the third oldest tortoise ever authenticated, behind Tu'i Malila, who died in 1965 at the age of 188, and Adwaita, who died in 2006 at the age of 255.



Wikipedia says about "Adwaita" that "The age of Adwaita is estimated to be around 255. If confirmed by carbon dating, this would make Adwaita one of the oldest creatures of modern times".



I haven't found any confirmation of this carbon dating thought....

Searching for more informations, I came up with this blog saying:

Galapagos tortoise from the zoo has died aged 315 years

In the Cairo zoo / closed more than a month due to avian flu / Friday has died, the oldest animal in Egypt – Galapagos tortoise named Samir.
Scientists estimate the age of turtles, donated by the zoo in 1891, about 315 years, local media reported.
Recently, a turtle, under constant veterinary supervision, almost ceased to move and stopped eating. In 1992, aged nearly 400 years, died on her «husband» Samir.
Turtles were donated in 1890 the ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Tawfiq Pasha, who gave a botanical garden with all the animals and birds under the Cairo Zoo.

315....400 years-old!!

I haven't found any confirmation of this incredible longevity for a tortoise yet.

Any input?

Why would you exclude those other things?

That's like saying my dog is the oldest living thing on earth if you discount the 150 things above it.

reply to post by elevenaugust


I would check your reference at the end there. It was obviously written by someone who has no idea what they are talking about. The ages of the tortoises may be correct, but their use of the word "Turtle" is incorrect.

A Tortoise spends its life on dry land.
A Turtle spends its life mostly in water.
A Terrapin spends its life between both land and water.

reply to post by elevenaugust
This kind of thing fascinates me as it speaks of life-times we'll never know. The critters' lives have spanned so much history that it's hard not to stop what we're doing and just daydream a little about the passing of time.

Even more than that, when their lives end it isn't always just a simple, inevitable example of death; some of them are the end of their species.

They've been there before we humans had powered flight or cars. Their births track backwards to our great, great, great grandparents. How can any soulful person not be impressed by such longevity in the scheme of things?

Wow! I have a red-eared slider turtle who fits in the palm of my hand, well barely, but he is strong. Imagine how strong those huge tortoises are? And they live such long lives!!!! Amazing creatures!