Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K................from my research, the largest turtle in the world is a Leatherback? The largest freshwater turtle is an Orinoco River turtle? The heaviest freshwater turtle is an Alligator snapping turtle? Does this sound accurate to everyone? What does everyone think are the largest and heaviest??? Thanks!

- Justin

I was called by a woman in Catonsville, MD, who claimed to have a 67 year old red-eared slider. Not the oldest turtle, but likely the oldest recorded slider.

Katrina
Baltimore, MD

That RES can't be a record if it wasn't accurately documented.

The largest freshwater turtles in the world are Rafetus swinhoei and Chitra chitra.

The largest and heaviest hard shelled freshwater turtles in the world are male alligator snapping turtles, Orlitia borneensis and Podocnemis expansa. All three run a very close competition.

The largest and heaviest living turtle is the leaterback.

It could be a record, just not an OFFICIAL one.

Katrina

I had heard the largest freshwater shell length went to Pelochelys bibrioni, the Bulldog softshell. Alligator snapper is the heaviest, but Orlitia is close. I believe the oldest was a tortoise on St. Helena island (where Napoleon was exiled for the last time) that lived a documented 175 years. Not sure if it was an Aldabara or Galapagos. Not sure abouit the age of the Tonga Tortoise ( a radiated tortoise) that was a national monument.

Softshell records. Lengths given are leathery carapace length.

Rafetus swinhoei 1041 mm
Chitra indica 1100 mm
Pelochelys cantorii 1000 mm
Chitra chitra 1220 mm
Pelochelys bibroni 1020 mm

Just caught the tail end of a segment on, of all places, "The Daily Show", allegedly featuring a 175-year-old Galapagos Tortoise.