What would happen if you put two turtles together? Would they fight or get along? The answer depends on their size.
World’s biggest turtles are reptiles from the order Chelonia. They belong to the family Testudinidae and are found throughout the world. There are over 25 species of turtles, some of them endangered.
Turtles are known for being slow-moving creatures, however, they are also very intelligent. In fact, they are considered to be the smartest animals on Earth.
Heaviest Recorded Specimen of a Sea Turtle
Sea turtles are some of the most ancient animals still living today. They’ve been around since the Jurassic Period about 150 million years ago, making them one of the longest-living creatures on Earth.
These magnificent reptiles, also known as marine turtles, rarely spend much time on land. Most species prefer to remain near water, although there are exceptions. For example, green sea turtles are frequently seen basking on beaches along the coast, while loggerhead sea turtles are more likely to bask in shallow waters.
But first, let’s see which is the world’s biggest turtle. Then we’ll take a look at the biggest one ever discovered in our oceans!
The heaviest recorded specimen of a sea turtle weighs in at a whopping 2,300 pounds. This giant reptile was discovered off the coast of Florida in 2010, where it had washed up dead. Biologists believe that this creature measured over 40 feet long, weighed close to 3 tons, and lived in the ocean for nearly 60 years.
This massive creature is believed to be a female Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, named for its discoverer, Dr. Robert “Bob” Kemp. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles live in tropical regions of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean.
Read do turtles need heating lamps? 5 good reasons why they do to know more about turtles.
World Biggest Turtle Ever Recorded
A leatherback sea turtle found dead off the coast of Wales in 1988 was the world’s biggest turtle and heaviest ever recorded. The species, known as the leatherback because of its thick shell, measures up to three meters long and weighs nearly 900 kilograms.
Unfortunately for the turtle, it died after becoming tangled up in some fishnets. However, it did manage to draw global attention as it was one out of just about 50 turtles of its kind remaining in the world.
The leatherback turtle arrived on the beach near Harlech, north Wales, in October 1988, attracting a lot of interest from museum staff. The preparation of the specimen took several months as it needed to be carefully cleaned and prepared for display.
The world’s biggest turtle was found dead on the shoreline, having been caught up in fishing netting. Its death was confirmed after it was brought into the museum where experts examined it.
The size and weight of the animal meant that it posed problems for conservationists trying to preserve it. The body of the turtle could not be removed from the beach without disturbing the sand beneath it.
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World’s Biggest Freshwater Turtle Nearly Extinct
The last known pair of the world’s biggest turtle was seen in June. They were observed during the wetter months of the year, so they laid their clutches of baby turtles safely. Researchers collected eggs from the last male and female in hopes that at least one egg will be fertilized and hatch into baby turtles.
A 220-pound (100 kilograms) freshwater giant, the Yangtze giant soft-shelled turtle spends most of its life digging in muddy riverbanks. But it’s also a migratory animal, traveling upriver during the dry season and downriver during the wet season.
By the late 1990s, humans had begun to encroach on the habitat of the turtle, causing it to become rarer. The Chinese government banned harvesting of the shell, and protected areas were set aside to protect the species.
Today, there are fewer than 300 turtles left in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. According to Matt White, as quoted from Guinness World Records, over two centuries, an estimated 200,000 gentle giants were wiped out and four species are now extinct following the death of Lonesome George, the last remaining giant tortoise on the Galápagos’ Pinta Island (aka Abingdon Island), in 2012.
Check out the 5 Most Common Colours of Lizards to get information about another reptile.
Conclusion
That’s all about the world’s biggest turtle. I hope you enjoy this information.
If you have an interest in another reptile, this blog is for you! What reptile information that you what to know more about? Leave a comment below!
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