- WATCH VIDEO: Discover the 3 important things that make turtles and tortoises are able to live long.
Why are turtles and tortoises able to live so long?
Let us consider 3 main factors:
1. Slow Metabolism
Metabolism: "typically refers to the chemical and physical processes that happen within a living being so as to make them stay alive."
One major reason turtles are believed to have such long lifespans is their slow metabolism.
Turtles and tortoises continue to grow very slowly throughout their lives. This prevents them from aging in the same way other animals do.
Furthermore, turtles are generally very slow-moving and relaxed animals this helps in keeping their energy requirements very low. Thus they generally live stress free lives.
2. Healthy lifestyle
Turtles and tortoises are omnivores like us humans. That means they eat a variety of foods, including meat and fish to vegetables and fruits.
Usually what they eat usually amounts to a balance diet. They ensure they eat vegetables that they come across in their region.
When turtles and tortoises are young, they need to eat a lot more protein, so younger turtles tend to be more carnivorous. But as they grow old, turtles start eating less meat and more vegetation.
3. Protection from predators
When protecting themselves from predators turtles and tortoises first line of defense is their shell. Once fully developed, the toughened shell keeps them safe from most predators.
Turtles and tortoises tend also to live in locations where there aren’t many predators in the first place, at least none that live as long as turtles to attack them repeatedly and make their lives difficult.
Sea turtles on the other hand, live a long life as there is less danger to their extinctions down underwater.
Thanks to turtles and tortoises slow metabolisms, they can also survive long periods without food or water, thus they are able to survive and tolerate harsh conditions well.
