AnAge entry for Aldabrachelys gigantea

Classification (HAGRID: 03764)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Reptilia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Testudines (Taxon entry)
                Family: Testudinidae
                    Genus: Aldabrachelys
Species
Aldabrachelys gigantea
Common name
Aldabra tortoise
Synonyms
Geochelone gigantea, Dipsochelys dussumieri

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
152 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 527
Sample size
Large
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Anecdotal evidence suggests that these animals do not age. Still, increased mortality with age and size in the wild has been reported, though it could be due to increased predation [0002]. An individual apparently died accidentally after 152 years in captivity. Because this animal was caught as an adult, it was probably around 180 years old [0527]. One male specimen called "Adwaita" was reported to have been anywhere between 150 and 255 years of age when he died at Alipore Zoo in Calcutta, India. Allegedly, "Adwaita" was a pet of British general Robert Clive before arriving at the zoo in 1875. This anecdotal report has not been confirmed.

One Seychelles giant tortoise named "Jonathan", living on Saint Helena, is allegedly over 180 years of age, but this has not been confirmed. Moreover, although the Aldabra Atoll is in the Seychelles, there is some debate whether the Seychelles giant tortoise is a different species or a subspecies (/hololissa/) of the Aldabra tortoise.

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
9,131 days
Male sexual maturity
9,131 days
Incubation
7397 days
Adult weight
117,200 g

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 936901
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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