10 of the Biggest Turtles in the World

Although these tortoises are huge, they are all relatively easy to care for as long as you have a large backyard to house them in and the right temperatures within your locale

Table of ContentsBiggest Tortoises in the World1

Biggest Tortoises in the World

1 Galápagos Tortoise

A Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) walking into some mossy water in Galapagos, Ecuador

The Galápagos Tortoise is made up of several subspecies

These subspecies are also considered to be separate species

When considered to be separate species, this list could be filled with just Galápagos tortoises since all species of Galápagos tortoise are massive

The Galápagos Tortoise can be found on the Galápagos Islands which are composed of about 21 islands located in the Pacific Ocean

Some of the islands which have the presence of the chelonian include Darwin (Culpepper) Island, Española (Hood) Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, Pinzón Island, and several others

These tortoises are huge and the number of species/subspecies of the Galápagos Tortoise is considered to be 15

The number of species/subspecies still extant is either 12 or 11

The exact number differs from one source to another as most of these species are critically endangered and on the verge of extinction

One or two species/subspecies are considered extinct by most sources

Species/subspecies of Galápagos Tortoise include:

Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis vicina)

Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise (C

Española Giant Tortoise (C

Fernandina Giant Tortoise (C

Pinzón Giant Tortoise (C

San Cristóbal Giant Tortoise (C

Santiago Giant Tortoise (C

Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise (C

Volcán Alcedo Giant Tortoise (C

Volcán Darwin Giant Tortoise (C

Western Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise (C

Volcán Wolf Giant Tortoise (C

2 Aldabra Giant Tortoise

An Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) walking on grass in Seychelles, Africa

A gigantea is a tortoise species endemic to Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles

The chelonian gets its name from its geographic range

A gigantea used to be endemic to other islands within the western Indian Ocean and Madagascar

A gigantea is a giant reptile with size on par with those of the Galápagos tortoises which are considered to be the largest member of the order Testudinidae

A gigantea is known to reach an estimated mean carapace length of 48 inches and an average mass/weight of about 350 pounds

The carapace of this turtle is tan to brown, the carapace is high domed

This long neck allows the reptile to reach foliage that is up to 33 feet

This turtle can be found in a wide range of habitats including coastal dunes, mangrove swamps, low shrubland, and grasslands

g daudinii – Daudin’s giant tortoise) considered to be extinct since 1850

The three extant subspecies include A

g gigantea (Aldabra giant tortoise) found on Aldabra Atoll; A

g arnoldi (Arnold’s giant tortoise) found on Mahé Island; and A

g hololissa (Seychelles giant tortoise) found on the islands of Silhouette, Round, Praslin, Mahé, Frégate, Cousine, and Cerf

3 African Spurred Tortoise

An African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) walking through dirt in Burkina Faso

Scientific Name: Centrochelys sulcata / Geochelone sulcata

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Centrochelys sulcata is considered the third-largest tortoise after the Aldabra giant tortoise (which is the second-largest) and the Galápagos tortoise (which is the largest)

The largest sulcata tortoise has been recorded to have reached a mass of about 220 lb (100 kg)

The African spurred tortoise is commonly referred to as the sulcata tortoise

The species is endemic to the Sahel region of Africa, which is the transitional zone between the Sahara desert and the Sudanian savanna

The species may also be endemic to Cameroon and Benin

C sulcata is the largest tortoise on the mainland

It is also the largest tortoise on the African mainland

On average, adults of the species can reach a mass of about 80 to 110 lb

This carapace is brown in coloration

The chelonian has a lifespan of 54 years

Although the species is endangered, they are quite common in the pet market

The species have been successfully bred and can be acquired for anywhere between $200 to over $1000

4 Leopard Tortoise

A Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) sitting in green and grass in Emining, Kenya

While Stigmochelys pardalis may not be anywhere as large as the three tortoises mentioned prior, it is still quite large

This chelonian can reach a mass of 119 lb and a carapace length of 28 inches

S pardalis is known as the leopard tortoise because of the patterns and coloration on the carapace, which resembles a leopard’s fur

The species is generally considered to be the fourth largest tortoise species in the world

The average carapace length of the species is about 18 inches

pardalis apart from other tortoises

This chelonian has a yellowish or tan carapace with black blotches

The feet and head of the species are brownish to tan

The species can be found in arid plains to grasslands

The species have been found in the mesic thickets, karroid fynbos, thorn forests, and mesic and arid savannas

S pardalis is predominantly herbivorous feeding on forbs, berries, fruits, succulents, and grasses

These seeds come from the fruits and berries that the species consume

5 Burmese Mountain Tortoise

A Burmese Mountain Tortoise (Manouria emys) in green leaves in Sumatera Barat, Indonesia

Experience Level: Intermediate

Scientific Name: Manouria emys

Other Names: Asian Forest Tortoise

Manouria emys is also known as the Asian Giant Tortoise for a reason

This is because it is a large tortoise and one of the largest on the planet

It is also the largest tortoise endemic to Asia

The species is also known as the brown tortoise, the Asian brown tortoise, and the Asian forest tortoise

The species can reach a length of 24 inches and a mass of 82 lb

The species can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, southern and western Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh

M emys is brown to black in coloration

The coloration is dependent on the subspecies

There are two subspecies, these are Manouria emys emys (known as Asian brown tortoise) and M

e phayrei (known as Burmese brown tortoise)

The Burmese mountain tortoise is the larger and darker of the two

The species are mostly herbivorous and feed on fruits, leaves, vegetables, and grasses

This species isn’t commonly kept as a pet

6 Ploughshare Tortoise

A Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) sitting on straw in Mauritius, Africa

Scientific Name: Astrochelys yniphora

This is a critically endangered tortoise that is considered to be one of the least common tortoises in the world

The geographic range of the species is very limited

Astrochelys yniphora are endemic to xeric scrub forest, shrub thickets, and bamboo scrub savannahs with palms

The species normally reach a mass of 12 to 42 lb and a length of 12 to 19 inches

yniphora is yellowish-brown

A yniphora are primarily herbivorous, feeding mostly on leaves and fruits

This tortoise isn’t kept as a pet

7 Radiated Tortoise

A Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) walking on sand in Madagascar

Scientific Name: Astrochelys radiata

The radiated tortoise is very similar to the angonoka

In fact, both species belong to the same genus

Astrochelys radiata is not only quite large it is also long-lived with a lifespan of up to 188 years

Astrochelys radiata isn’t as large as the biggest tortoises but can reach a length of up to 17 inches and a mass of 35 lb

Most specimens reach a mass of 23 lb

This turtle has yellow lines that radiate from the center of each scute on the carapace

These radiating lines give the species their common name

The star patterns on the carapace are more intricate and detailed than that of other tortoises with similar patterns such as the Geochelone elegans (Indian star tortoise)

The feet, neck, and head are yellowish in coloration

The species can be found in south and southwestern Madagascar

The species is largely herbivorous and its diet is composed of succulents, fruits, and grasses

8 Bolson Tortoise

A Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus) on dry land in Chihuahua, Mexico

Scientific Name: Gopherus flavomarginatus

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Gopherus flavomarginatus is referred to as the Mexican giant tortoise for a reason

This is the largest tortoise in North America

This giant is actually moderately sized when compared to other chelonians on this list

G flavomarginatus is capable of reaching carapace lengths of 18 inches or 46 cm

G flavomarginatus is capable of reaching a mass or weight of 220 lb, although the average mass of the species is 187 lb

The color of the carapace is brown and the color of the plastron is yellowish

The species is known to have a lifespan of 20 to 70 years in the wild

9 Marginated Tortoise

A Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata) in grass somewhere in Attica, Greece

Experience Level: Beginner

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

The biggest tortoise in Europe is the marginated tortoise

This is a Mediterranean species and can be found in the Mediterranean region, specifically within the Balkan peninsula

This species can reach a carapace length of 15 inches and a mass of 11 pounds while this doesn’t seem large, it is for a European tortoise

The species can be quite aggressive

m marginata also known as the Greek marginated tortoise which is endemic to the entire geographic range and T

m sarda also known as the Sardinian marginated tortoise which is endemic to Sardinia

Gopher Tortoise

A Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in grass and dirt somewhere in Florida, USA

Scientific Name: Gopherus polyphemus

Average Adult Length: 9 to 15 inches (23 to 39 cm)

Average Adult Mass: 194 oz (55 kg)

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

The gopher tortoise is one of the smaller tortoises on this list

However, this is still fairly large compared to other turtles

This chelonian is also the state tortoise of Florida and the state reptile of Georgia

The species is endemic to the southeastern United States

Gopherus polyphemus is quite large reaching a carapace length of 16 inches although most individuals will have a carapace length less than that

The species is dark brown to black in coloration and their plastron is yellowish

The trade of the gopher tortoise is illegal so these tortoises aren’t kept as pets

Infographic about the biggest tortoises in the world

What is the biggest tortoise in North America?

The biggest tortoise in North America is the Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus)

This chelonian reaches carapace lengths of 18 inches and a mass of 220 lbs

This is a truly large tortoise

G flavomarginatus is also commonly known as the yellow-margined tortoise and the Mexican giant tortoise

G flavomarginatus is endemic to the Bolsón de Mapimí region of the Chihuahuan Desert

What is the biggest tortoise in Asia?

The biggest tortoise in Asia is Manouria emys phayrei commonly known as the Burmese Mountain tortoise

This tortoise is a subspecies of Manouria emys whose nominotypical subspecies are known as the Asian brown tortoise

phayrei is however the larger of the two subspecies

phayrei can reach a mass of 82 lb (37 kg) and a carapace length of 24 inches or 60 cm

The species is also known as the Asian Giant Tortoise

What is the biggest tortoise in South America?

The biggest tortoise in South America is the Galápagos tortoise

These tortoises can be found on the Galápagos Islands of South America

The Galápagos tortoise is also the largest tortoise in the world

This giant is capable of reaching an adult mass of 919 lb or 417 kg

The binomial name of the Galápagos tortoise is Chelonoidis niger

Interestingly, the subspecies are also sometimes considered separate species

All the species are massive and can reach similar weights and carapace lengths

Chelonoidis microphyes can reach a carapace length of 53 inches

What is the biggest tortoise in Africa?

The biggest tortoise in Africa is the Aldabra giant tortoise

This tortoise is endemic to the Aldabra Atoll which is part of Seychelles

These tortoises grow to an average adult mass of 353 lb or 160 kg and can reach a carapace length of 53 inches

The third-largest tortoise in the world can also be found in Africa, and that is the sulcata also known as the African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)

This is a giant tortoise as well

This species can reach a mass of 110 lb or 50 kg

Centrochelys sulcata also reach a carapace length of 33 inches or 83 cm

What is the biggest tortoise in Australia and Oceania?

There are no tortoises in Australia and Oceania

With this being said, there are two semi-aquatic turtles endemic to Australia, these two are sometimes referred to as tortoises but they are not as they do not belong to the order Testudinidae

There are many large tortoises

Some such as the Galápagos tortoises are the biggest tortoise

This tortoise is endemic to the Galápagos Islands located in South America

The largest tortoise in North America is the Bolson tortoise which is endemic to Mexico

In Asia, the largest tortoise is the Burmese mountain tortoise also known as the Asian giant tortoise

The largest tortoise in Africa is the sulcata also known as the African spurred tortoise

The largest tortoise in Europe is the marginated tortoise

Many of these large reptiles can be kept as pets

These include the marginated tortoise, the sulcata tortoise, and the Burmese mountain tortoise