How long can a tortoise/turtle live? Do you believe the myth of 200 years? Why do we readily believe myths?

Question

The people in this forum misunderstand. This is not a DEBATE forum. We're looking for answers. I'm frankly trying to disprove a myth.
Rather than trying to help, most people seem intent on disproving ME (the asking one) and SUPPORT the urban legend:
1. "I have personally spoken with people who have had "pet" turts/torts for many years...were over 40...over 30. Why is it so difficult to believe that there are animals that can out live humans?" [If the people were alive, the turtle was not over 200!] [The examples you give are 20-40 years. My grandfather is much older than 30-40! We're talking about 200!]
2. "No one can really tell...monitoring the same animal for the whole of its life is nearly impossible..."[That's why we invented WRITING!!]
3. "Monitor a turtle...Pass on your notes to someone younger you trust..." [That's PRECISELY what I am looking for: RECORDS passed on through generations PROVING a turtle is over 200.]
It's not for ME to prove! I'm looking for ANSWERS!

Cele and John V-13 answered. But without any proof--no links. What good is that? WHO says that they live to 200? Everyone KNOWS that myth. If you KNOW a good link (besides Wikipedia), THAT is what we need. Otherwise, don't bother. We KNOW that people say they live to over 200!! We KNOW that!!

Answer 1

I have read that the oldest living galapagos tortoise is 176 years old and is living at a zoo near Brisbane Australia. There is an article about a giant tortoise that was supposed to be 255 at the time of his death. He lived in the Alipore zoo in Calcutta. Here is the link:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/British/Clive_Tortoise.html

Answer 2

there is lifelike skepticism and skepticism that reaches the point of paranoid conspiracy hypothesizers. What ought to characterize sufficient data to satisfy you? each and every try, each and every record that you search for will go by ability of yet another human so in case you'll merchandise that there are corrupt persons which have vested pastimes in propagating a delusion, then no longer some thing is going to satisfy your wide-spread. it is the reason that it is so complicated to argue with those who believe the moon landings were faked, JFK became a Mafia/CIA/Cuban/Soviet plot, Sept 11 became a Jewish/Bush conspiracy or that there are extraterrestrial beings beaming alerts into my dental amalgams. “They” are able to maneuvering adverse to any attainable objection to the ridiculousness of the claims. And that is less than no circumstances a debate communicate board. practically each and every of the questions fall right into some diverse kinds. Homework questions. Jesus freaks who rant on organic determination. someone who thinks they're oh so cleaver through soliciting for the nth time about: poultry or the egg? Why do adult adult males have nipples? etc… little question you’ll lower price this positioned up as being a device of the turtle cabal purpose on protecting the myth alive.

Answer 3

Many turtles have very long lifespans! Box turtles can live well over 100 years and other turtles like the spotted turtle can live over 50 years. Some sea turtles species can survive up to 200 years.....

Answer 4

there really are 200 year turtles/tortoises, there are records because biologists can calculate the age of the turtles/tortoises by the form and size of the shields on its shell.