World's Oldest Reptile

Photograph believed to be of Jonathan around 1900



Jonathan, (born c. 1832) is a Seychelles Giant Tortoise that lives on the island of St. Helena.

Jonathan was brought to the island in 1882, along with three other tortoises at about 50 years of age. He was named in the 1930s by Governor Sir Spencer Davis. He continues to live in the grounds of the official residence of the Governor, and belongs to the government of Saint Helena.

His possible age was realized when a photograph was uncovered from a collection of Boer War images showing a tortoise next to a war prisoner around the year 1900. On December 5, 2008, the Daily Mail published a story claiming Jonathan is the same tortoise pictured in the photograph. If he were about 70 years old at the time of the photo, he could now be the oldest living reptile on earth.

holy crap.

Here's another one:

Timothy (c. 1839 – 3 or 4 April 2004) was a Mediterranean Spur-Thighed Tortoise who was thought to be approximately 165 years old at the time of her death. This made her the UK's oldest known resident. In spite of her name, Timothy was female; it was not properly known how to sex tortoises in the 19th century.

Timothy was found aboard a Portuguese privateer in 1854 by Captain John Courtenay Everard, of the Royal Navy The tortoise served as a mascot on a series of Navy vessels until 1892. She was ship's mascot of HMS Queen during the first bombardment of Sevastopol in the Crimean War (she was the last survivor of this war). After her navy service she retired to live out her life on dry land, taken in by the Earl of Devon at his home Powderham Castle. On her underside was etched the family motto, "Where have I fallen? What have I done?"

Timothy was originally believed to be a male tortoise, hence her name. In 1926, Timothy's owners decided that he should mate and it was then discovered that Timothy was female. Despite this useful information, mating attempts were unsuccessful. Timothy's owners did not change her name, and even continued to refer to her with the masculine pronoun.

Timothy was buried near the place of her demise at the Earl of Devon's home Powderham Castle.

They were probably pretty slow to answer.......

Savannah wrote:

Rob wrote:

Timothy was originally believed to be a male tortoise, hence her name. In 1926, Timothy's owners decided that he should mate and it was then discovered that Timothy was female. Despite this useful information, mating attempts were unsuccessful. Timothy's owners did not change her name, and even continued to refer to her with the masculine pronoun.

Maybe if they'd have given her a feminine name after they found out she was a girl, she'd have been a little more willing to go out on a date with another tortoise...I mean, really...How's she supposed to find a nice boy tortoise? She was probably embarrassed about her name. What do you think happens when the boy tortoises hear "Wanna go out on a date with Timothy?"

There were scientist that claimed that Marie-Antoinette turtle lived 235 years or so...I feel a little younger after reading Jonathan, Thimoty and Marie-Antoinette's turtle stories...

Vanesa.