These Are The Biggest Turtles & Tortoises In The World!
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I’ve always been fascinated by just how big turtles and tortoises can get. We’re talking about animals that can outlive most humans, weigh more than a small car, and in some cases, are older than your grandparents’ grandparents.
Everyone knows sea turtles can get huge, but which ones hold the real records? And what about land tortoises—the slow-moving giants that look like they’ve been around since the dinosaurs (because they kind of have)?
I dug into the latest research, updated measurements, and some downright jaw-dropping records. Let’s check out the biggest living and extinct species, and see who’s ruling the water, land, and even history books.
Largest Living Turtle – Leatherback Sea Turtle
If we’re talking about living turtles, the leatherback still sits on the throne. Adults typically measure 5–7 feet long and weigh 750–1,500 pounds.
The biggest confirmed in recent years tipped the scales at just over 2,000 pounds. These are not the hard-shelled turtles you’re used to—they’ve got a thick, leathery shell with seven ridges running down their backs. No nails on their flippers, a big notched jaw, and a build made for long-distance ocean travel.
They’re built for power, not speed, and they can dive deeper than most whales. Pretty wild for something shaped like a prehistoric bathtub.
Warning: You Might Spend Hours Here
I’ve built the ultimate turtle and tortoise species database. This isn’t your average turtle list. Filter by genus, conservation status, and more. How many species? Which are endangered? What’s the tiniest one? It’s all there.
Biggest Land Tortoises – Galápagos and Aldabra
On land, nothing beats the Galápagos tortoise. Males can reach 5 feet in length and weigh 500–900 pounds in rare cases. Females are smaller but still massive. They can live well past 100 years, and some have hit the 150 mark.
The Aldabra giant tortoise isn’t far behind. Most adults weigh 300–500 pounds, but exceptional individuals in captivity have broken 600 pounds. These guys are found on the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles and spend most of their days eating, resting, and doing absolutely nothing else.
This Hilarious Turtle Book Might Know Your Pet Better Than You Do
Let’s be real—most turtle care guides feel like reading a textbook written by a sleep-deprived zookeeper.
This one’s not that.
Told from the snarky point of view of a grumpy, judgmental turtle, 21 Turtle Truths You’ll Never Read in a Care Guide is packed with sarcasm, sass, and surprisingly useful insights.
And hey—you don’t have to commit to the whole thing just yet.
Grab 2 free truths from the ebook and get a taste of what your turtle really thinks about your setup, your food choices, and that weird plastic palm tree.
It’s funny, it’s honest, and if you’ve ever owned a turtle who glares at you like you’re the problem—you’ll feel seen.
Other Heavyweights in Freshwater
If we’re talking strictly freshwater, the Yangtze giant softshell turtle is the king—though sadly, there are only a handful left in the wild. These turtles can reach over 3 feet long and weigh 150–250 pounds, with unverified claims of some hitting 500 pounds.
The alligator snapping turtle is another monster, sometimes hitting 250 pounds. With their spiked shells and dinosaur faces, they look like they’ve walked straight out of the Jurassic era.
Prehistoric Giants – Stupendemys and Archelon
Modern giants are impressive, but they’ve got nothing on the prehistoric beasts.
Archelon – The largest sea turtle ever recorded. Lived during the Late Cretaceous. Some individuals reached 15 feet and weighed up to 7,000 pounds. Its flippers alone were longer than most people are tall.
Stupendemys – A freshwater turtle from South America’s Miocene era. Shell length? Around 9–11 feet. Weight? Roughly 2,500 pounds. Imagine paddling a canoe and having one of these surface next to you.
Historical records
In 1988, a leatherback washed up on a beach in Wales measuring almost 9 feet long and weighing over 2,000 pounds.
The largest Galápagos tortoise ever recorded was Goliath, a captive male who hit 919 pounds.
And in the fossil record? Stupendemys and Archelon make those numbers look small.
Final Thoughts
From 900-pound tortoises strolling islands to leatherbacks gliding across oceans the size of SUVs, turtles and tortoises have been pushing the limits of size for millions of years.
Some still roam our planet today. Others are only known through fossils. But all of them prove one thing—slow and steady doesn’t mean small.
About Author
Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.
