Why do turtles/toirtases live so long?

Question

we were doing a prject in school on deep see creatures and someone asked this question and the teacher went on and on and on on metobolic rate, amont of stress an organism has, what they eat and whats their preditors.............45 minutes wasted we knew all this and she never answered the question. Why can't humans stay alive as ling as turtles

Answer 1

Several interlocking things going on- and understand that the main long-lived turtles are the giant tortoises. Most turtles barely break 30.

1. Metabolism. They have a slow metabolism- they do not burn energy, they do not burn and destroy cells quickly, etc. High metabolisms burn up incredible amounts of energy and cellular material.

2. Diet. The heavily vegetarian diet tortoises eat does not burn fast, does not leave a lot of organic toxins, does not give them a ton of energy (mammalian herbivores have to eat a TON of vegetation a day, while tortoises can go for months on what a mammal eats in one day.

3. Lack of predators. Island giants have few predators if they can avoid human-introduced cats, rats, hogs and dogs as eggs or young. The longest-lived tortoises live in protected locations- zoos, isolated islands, etc.

4. Lack of stessors. Besides predators, the most successful tortoises also are not stressed by temperature issues, they get all the light, shelter, etc. they want.

Answer 2

They've proven recently that the organ of chelonians (turtles, tortoises, terrapins) do not age. Usually they die of a condition which could be anything, a disease or something. but healthy organs don't age.

you could go to turtleforum.com and ask there

Answer 3

you know that is a really good question,
Can't wait to see more answers.