Why do turtles live for so long?

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Images

A green sea turtle swims above a sandy, grassy seabed in clear blue water near Puerto Rico.

Diagram comparing the plastron and carapace in terrestrial and marine turtles, showing labeled illustrations of a turtle's ventral and dorsal shells and a skeletal view highlighting the relationship between the shells and axial skeleton.

Why do turtles live for so long?: Media

Images

A green sea turtle swims above a sandy, grassy seabed in clear blue water near Puerto Rico.

Sea turtle

A green sea turtle cruising through the waters off the coast of Puerto Rico.

© Sophie/stock.adobe.com

Diagram comparing the plastron and carapace in terrestrial and marine turtles, showing labeled illustrations of a turtle's ventral and dorsal shells and a skeletal view highlighting the relationship between the shells and axial skeleton.

Anatomy of a turtle shell

Turtle shells are formed from bones, with the top (the carapace) and the bottom (the...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.