Sea turtles generally have long lifespans, often comparable to humans. Most sea turtles live around 50 to 100 years, with some estimates suggesting they can live up to a century or more
. The most consistent scientific estimate places their lifespan at about 80 years
. Different species vary somewhat in lifespan and maturity age. For example, loggerhead sea turtles typically live 70 to 80 years and reach maturity around 30 to 35 years old
. Smaller species like Kemp’s ridley mature earlier (10-15 years) and tend to live a shorter time, often a few decades beyond maturity
. Sea turtles take many years to mature-usually between 20 and 30 years-and can remain reproductively active for another 10 years or more
. Due to natural and human threats, many turtles do not reach their full potential lifespan in the wild. In summary:
- Lifespan range: approximately 50 to 100 years, with some possibly living longer
- Maturity age: typically 20-35 years depending on species
- Loggerheads: about 70-80 years lifespan, mature at ~35 years
- Lifespan estimates are based on growth ring counts and genetic studies, but exact ages are difficult to verify
Thus, sea turtles are long-lived marine reptiles with lifespans often reaching many decades, sometimes close to a century.
