Tortoises are a group of exclusively terrestrial reptiles that are native to every continent apart from Australia and Antarctica. All tortoises belong to the order Testudines or Chelonia, making them members of the turtle family, but not all turtles are tortoises.
Tortoises have elephantine hind limbs, whilst other turtles have flipper-like limbs and webbed feet that help them move through the water. Tortoises inhabit a range of habitats, from arid deserts to exotic tropical forests; turtles spend most of their lives underwater.
The smallest tortoise is the padloper tortoise that lives in southern Africa and has a shell just 4 to 6 inches long. Meanwhile, one of the largest tortoise species, the giant tortoise, has a shell longer than 3.3 feet! Most species are herbivores, though some do eat carrion. All types of tortoises reproduce by laying eggs, usually laying small clusters of less than 20.
1. Russian tortoise
These little tortoises are about eight to ten inches long in adulthood. They have hard shells that are tan, greenish-yellow, or olive green in color and have brown or black markings on them. Russian tortoises live at high altitudes in rocky desert terrains across Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They dig burrows to hibernate in through months when it’s too hot or cold to come out!
Russian tortoises are a popular choice of pet! They are quite easy to care for, spend a lot of the day awake, and can live for more than 40 years. Their more interactive and social than other tortoises, making them a preferred choice amongst reptile lovers.
2. Aldabra giant tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise is, as its name suggests, very large! Males have shells that can reach lengths of four feet, and females have shells of three feet or more. These giant reptiles can weigh up to 670 pounds, with a carapace weighing 550 pounds!
This large, ancient tortoise is native to the Aldabra Island, off the coast off Madagascar. One specimen, weighing 672 pounds, holds the record of the largest free-roaming tortoise ever found! And their impressive size isn’t the only thing that makes this tortoise spectacular; they can also live for up to 150 years!
3. Radiated tortoise
Radiated tortoise live in dry tropical forests in southern Madagascar, where they forage for leaves, flowers, fruits, cacti, and fresh grasses to munch on. They are small tortoises, that reach lengths of 16 inches and weigh just 35 pounds. Their pale, yellow skin and shell is covered in dark patches.
You’ll be surprised to know that despite their size, they are long-lived and have been known to live for 188 years! Interestingly, these spectacular little tortoises have shells with nerve endings and blood vessels running through them, allowing them to feel touch on their hard shells.
4. Angonoka tortoise
Angonoka tortoises are some 15-17 inches long and weigh just 19-23 pounds. These little fellas live for some 188 years on average! They are herbivores, that love a snack of fresh grass, herbs, dried bamboo leaves, and shrubs. Their highly rounded shell has light and dark shades running through it.
They are native to northwestern Madagascar, specifically to the Baly Bay area. Sadly, they are now classified as a critically endangered species by the IUCN, with fewer than 400 left in the wild. Their populations have been devastated by the illegal pet trade.
5. African spurred tortoise
The African spurred tortoise is the third largest tortoise on the planet, smaller only than Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoise. They are named after the spurs that stick out of their hind legs. Males are larger than females and reach lengths of over 2.5 feet and weigh a whopping 2,200 pounds!
They live on the southern edge of the Sahara in the north of Africa. To survive in their dry habitat, they are able to go weeks without food and water. They are quite aggressive towards other tortoises, even their own brothers and sisters! These impressive reptiles can live for 150 years or more.
6. Red-footed tortoise
Red-footed tortoises have dark brown shells and rough skin with bright, shell patterned markings in shades of yellow, orange, or red. They are some 11 to 14 inches long and weigh just 20-30 pounds.
Their native homes are the forests and grasslands of Central and South America, all the way down to Argentina. They munch on grasses, fruits, leaves, and any other tasty vegetation that they can get their beaks on. Their excrements spread the seeds of the fruits they eat, playing an important role in the maintenance of their surrounding ecosystem.
7. Chaco tortoise
There are just three tortoise species in South America, and the Chaco tortoise is the smallest. Just eight inches long, these little tortoises live in deserts and deciduous dry forests from Argentina to Paraguay, excluding Chile. They lay little clusters of eggs, with about one to four eggs in them, that can take up to a year to hatch!
They are herbivores that feed on fruits, cacti, and grasses in the wild but will happily munch on vegetables too in captivity. They have oval carapaces which are yellowish brown or dark brown and have a patch of light brown at the center of each scute.
8. Yellow-footed tortoise
Yellow-footed tortoises are the largest of the three species native to South America. They look a lot like their close relatives, red-footed tortoises. They have a light brown shell with darker brown areas around their scutes and dark brown skin with patches of yellow markings, particularly around their head.
These beautiful tortoises live in humid rainforests, and occasionally grasslands and savannahs, from Colombia to Bolivia. They prefer homes near to a water source, live a small stream or river. They are usually some 14 inches long, though can grow up to almost double that! The largest specimen ever spotted was 37 inches long.
9. Galápagos tortoise
The Galápagos tortoise is the largest tortoise on the planet! This large, herbivorous reptile is native to the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. They are giant, growing up to six foot in length and weighing up to 573 pounds!
There are 13 subspecies of Galápagos tortoises, and they are in fact what gave their home islands their name! Galápagos means tortoise in Spanish, and when explores visited the islands many centuries ago they were dazzled by the creatures, and named the islands after them. These long-lived creatures can survive for up to 175 years!
10. Angulate tortoise
Angulate tortoises have an intricately patterned black and pale yellow shell, and similarly colored skin. Their shell has a unique feature, a long protrusion underneath their necks that males use to flip over other tortoise as they battle for a females attention during mating season.
They are native to southern Africa and can be kept in captivity without too much fuss. Their preferred habitats are semi-arid grasslands and shrublands where there’s enough vegetation for them to munch on, but it’s still warm and sunny! They are some seven to ten inches long and can move at surprisingly fast speeds for a tortoise, darting.
11. Karoo padloper (Boulenger’s cape tortoise)
This tiny tortoise is about four inches long, the length of three or four coins placed side by side! They have a dull, uniformly colored carapace in shades of light or dark brown; though not very exciting their coloring helps them blend into their surroundings. Their shell is flatter than other tortoise species’.
They are endemic to the Nama Karoo Region of South Africa, giving them their name, and also inhabit areas of southern Namibia. They weigh just 3.5 to 5.3 ounces, placing them amongst the smallest tortoise species.
12. Speckled Tortoise
These miniature tortoises are just two to four inches long, the smallest of all the South African species! They have a dark shell with light brown centered scutes; they are named after the small, irregular speckles that decorate their shell.
These little tortoises have a niche habitat and are only found in the wild in Little Namaqualand, South Africa. Their arid habitat is full of rocky outcrops where the tortoises can forage for tasty succulents and hide amongst the rocks.
13. Nama dwarf tortoise (Berger’s cape tortoise)
The Nama dwarf tortoise has a shell that measures no more than 6.5 inches in length, though it is usually closer to just four inches long! You can see why they are called dwarf tortoises. Their shells are also flatter than most species.
Nama dwarf tortoises are in the same genus as the smallest tortoise on Earth, the speckled dwarf tortoise. They belong to the Chersobius genus, that includes another two dwarf species that also live in Africa.
14. Indian star tortoise
These cute little tortoises have unique star shaped markings in a pale yellow that decorate their black shell. Their skin is tough and light brown. They are small tortoises, though they don’t make ideal pets as they don’t like being handled and will often become ill if their environmental conditions aren’t just right.
The Indian star tortoise is native to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are used to hot, humid climates and eventful monsoon floods. They inhabit semi-arid grasslands where they have easy access to a selection of tasty, fresh grasses. They also love prickly pears!
15. Burmese star tortoise
Burmese star tortoises have domed shells decorated with delicate star patterns in a pale yellow that stand out against their otherwise dark carapace. Most of their scutes are decorated with six-pointed stars, though the odd star has just five points.
Females are larger than males and measure up to 14 inches. Typically, these tortoises measure an average length of 12 inches. They like the heat, and don’t do well in temperatures below 40 Fahrenheit.
Sadly, these beautiful tortoises aren’t doing very well in the wild – in fact, they are headed towards extinction! Conservation efforts and in-captivity breeding programs are desperately trying to restore this beautiful tortoise’s population size.
16. Desert tortoise
Desert tortoises are found in southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico. They live in hot, arid desert landscapes where they forage for scarce grasses and flowers. They withstand temperatures of up to 140 Fahrenheit by digging underground burrows where they can hide from the midday sun and keep cool.
Incredibly, they can go up to a year without drinking water by storing water in their bladder for later whenever they do get a drink. They are largely solitary animals, that lay ping-pong sized eggs. Their carapace can grow to 15 inches in length!
17. Texas tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
One of just four tortoise species found in North America, the Texas tortoise has yellowish orange scutes and elephant-like limbs. These wonderful creatures are found in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, in semi-desert terrains and scrublands. They like humid, subtropical weather and avoid the cold.
They tend to feed on grasses, herbs, and cacti; although they will occasionally eat insects, animal bones left behind by predators, and crunchy snails. They can live for up to 60 years and run (barely) at top speeds of five miles per hour.
18. Bolson tortoise (Mexican giant tortoise)
The bolson tortoise can reach lengths of 12 feet, living up to its common name, the Mexican giant tortoise. Impressively, they can weigh up to 220 pounds! They dig complex burrows connected by tunnels, where they gather in clusters and spend up to 85% of their time!
Bolson tortoises call the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico home. They used to be more widespread, inhabiting areas of the USA and central Mexico, but their population size has declined and with it so has their geographical range. Their niche habitat experiences extremes in temperatures, with cold winters and boiling hot summers – the Mexican giant tortoise is a resilient creature!
19. Sonoran Desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai)
The Sonoran Desert tortoise has a domed shell that reaches lengths of nine to fifteen inches. Like other desert species, they are able to go long periods of time without drinking water, storing liquids in their bladder and tolerating high levels of urea in their blood stream to avoid urination.
They are found in the Sonoran Desert, in the US and Mexico. They occur in rocky canyons and hillsides, as well as in the desert, tropical deciduous forest, and even some grasslands – they are very adaptive! They feed on grasses, herbs, flowers, fruits, and tasty cacti.
20. Gopher tortoise
Gopher tortoises have dark scutes and rough, black, and brown skin. They are usually just 10 inches long, and weigh about 12 pounds. These little tortoises are named after the deep burrows they dig, thanks to their shovel-like front legs.
They inhabit the southeast of the US and are the only land tortoise in the area. Although small, they are considered vital members of their ecosystem as they share their burrows with hundreds of other animals, making them a keystone species! In the 40 to 70 years they live, they can dig up to 35 burrows!
21. Common padloper (parrot-beaked tortoise)
These tiny tortoises are just 2.4–3.9 inches long and weigh a mere 0.3–0.7 pounds! Though small, they are quite eye-catching. They have olive green scutes with black edges and a decorative brown spot in the middle. This little tortoise is vulnerable to predation and has been affected by habitat destruction in recent decades.
They live in the coastal lowlands of South Africa’s eastern and southern Cape regions where they forage for grasses, fruits, leaves, and other tasty vegetation. They avoid arid regions and prefer milder climates.
22. Greater padloper (Homopus femoralis)
The greater padloper is also known as the Karoo Cape tortoise because it is endemic to the Karoo regions of South Africa. It can also be found in some areas of South Africa’s grasslands. They have more flattened shells than other tortoises, that come in a range of colors from reddish-brown to olive green.
It was named the greater padloper as it is the largest of the padloper species, though it’s still tiny and measures just four inches! This species is threatened by habitat loss, and often sold in the illegal pet trade as its size and cuteness are considered favorable features!
23. Elongated tortoise
Elongated tortoises aren’t as long as their name suggests. In fact, they average just 12 inches in length. These little tortoises weigh some seven pounds and can survive for up to 50 years in the wild. Sadly, they are now considered critically endangered in the wild, though they are often kept in captivity. The elongated tortoise is native to Asia, and inhabits countries including Thailand, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.
They have yellowish-brown carapaces with black markings on them, and some patches of yellow on their heads and front limbs. These dazzling little tortoises feed on soft leaves, fruit, invertebrates, and even carrion – they are opportunistic feeders.
24. Forsten’s tortoise
Forsten’s tortoises are found on the islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera, both Indonesian islands. Once they reach adulthood, they are some 10 inches long and weigh about 6.5 pounds. There are some differences between females and males, like the longer and thicker tails presented by males and the more rounded carapaces of females.
It’s hard to predict what color the tortoise’s shell will be, as it ranges greatly! They come in shades of caramel-brown or dark yellowish-brown and are often covered in black patches. Sadly, these wonderful creatures have suffered population declines of up to 70% over the last decades due, largely, to exportation off the island and into the exotic pet trade.
25. Travancore tortoise
Travancore tortoises are shy little creatures that spend most of the day hiding away and are most active at dawn and dusk. They have pretty carapaces, that are brownish-orange with dark edges. In adulthood they reach lengths of just 13 inches.
Their diet is mainly made up of leaves, fruits, and other vegetation, though they will eat snails, slugs, and worms given the chance. They are found in hillside forests at elevations of some 1,400–2,800 feet. Males are known to fight during mating season, bashing their shells into one another to assert dominance.
26. Hinge-back tortoise
Hinge-back tortoises are a small group of some three species, and various subspecies. They are characterized by the rear part of their carapace, that slopes downwards and can be closed over their hind limbs. This genus of tortoise was named Kinyxys, which has its origins in the terms “to move” and “back”.
They are a small group of tortoises, that grow to six or eight inches in most cases, though the serrated hinge-back can reach lengths of 12 inches. Sadly, most hinge-back tortoises are endangered or critically endangered. This is mainly due to poaching and trading in the illegal pet trade.
27. Pancake tortoise
Pancake tortoises are known for their carapace, that is flat like a pancake! It is also thinner and more flexible than most tortoises, which helps them move faster and with greater ease. They are fast for tortoises and flee instead of disappearing into their shell when a predator, like a mongoose, approaches!
They live in arid savannas, rocky outcrops, and scrublands in East Africa, namely in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Their peculiar shell is brown with vibrant yellow markings, perfect for camouflage. These tiny tortoises weigh just one pound and grow to six or seven inches in length.
28. Asian forest tortoise
One of the longest living tortoises, these magnificent reptiles can live to 150 years or more! They are the largest tortoises in mainland Asia, measuring somewhere between 1.5–2 feet. Their shells range in coloration from a dark brown with small patches of green, to completely black.
They inhabit evergreen forests with cool climates, across Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Their diet is mostly made up of leaves, bamboo shoots, and tubers, though they also eat fruit and occasionally small frogs or invertebrates!
29. Impressed tortoise
The impressed tortoise doesn’t get its curious name from a facial expression, but from the shape of its somewhat flattened shell. Their carapace, that is just over a foot long, is an orange-brown color with darker tones around the edges of each scute. These unique tortoises feed mostly on mushrooms that they forage in damp forests.
They live in humid and moist hillside and montane forests at high elevations. Now rare, they are occasionally spotted in forests in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Burma, and Malaysia.
30. Geometric tortoise
Named after the eye-catching geometric patterns that decorate its shell, these tortoises are some of the rarest and most beautiful in Africa. Females reach lengths of six inches and are larger than male geometric tortoises that are usually just four inches long!
Cute and small, they have been illegally smuggled into the pet trade, leaving them almost extinct in the wild. They are only found in South Africa, where they live in nature reserves and farms in a small area of the Western Cape province. Their preferred habitats are low-lying scrublands known as renosterveld.
31. Serrated tortoise
These tortoises were named after the serrated edges of their carapace. Their shells are decorated by geometric patterns much like those on the geometric tortoise’s carapace.
Serrated tortoises are found in the wild in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. They feed on succulents and don’t survive well in captivity because of their niche dietary requirements. At one time they faced poaching from local communities that used their shells to make tabaco and perfume cases.
32. Tent tortoise
As you might expect, the tent tortoise has a domed shell. Their carapace is decorated with star-shaped and geometric patterns, thought to resemble those of Bedouin tents – it’s very cool! There are three recognized subspecies of this little tortoise species.
These adaptive tortoises are found in the Karoo and semi-desert regions of Southern Africa, from Namibia to South Africa. They feed on niche local Karoo plant species, like juicy succulents and bushes.
33. Spider tortoise
The spider tortoise is the smallest of the four tortoise species found on the island of Madagascar. They grow to lengths of just seven inches! It is named after the unique yellow, web-like patterns that decorate its otherwise black carapace.
They don’t much like the heat and choose to burrow themselves into the sand and lay dormant for the dry season. These little tortoises munch on leaves, roots, insects, insect larvae, and cow poo that they find in the dry forests they live in.
34. Flat-tailed tortoise (Pyxis planicauda)
Small and shy, these six-inch-long tortoises can be hard to spot amongst the dry leaves on the forest floor. In the dry season, they lay dormant for long periods to avoid the heat! They munch on fallen fruits, flowers, and fungi that they forage for throughout the day.
This little tortoise is found in the Menabe region of Madagascar, and nowhere else! Sadly, it is now classified as critically endangered by the IUCN after 70% of its natural habitat was lost and it was smuggled out of the island to be sold in the illegal pet trade.
35. Leopard tortoise
Leopard tortoises have a carapace decorated in leopard-like spots that have made it attractive to reptile owners for a long time. These sizeable tortoises are some 12–28 inches long and can weigh up to 118 pounds! The females lay five to 30 eggs in nests that they dig up.
They are native to South Africa, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Their diet is mostly made up of grass, succulents, thistles, and tasty fruit like prickly pears and watermelons. They are highly protective of their territories. Males are also known to become aggressive towards one another in the mating season.
36. Greek tortoise
Greek tortoises are small, measuring just six to seven inches in length. They are light too; the heaviest they get is some five pounds. But despite their unimpressive size, they can live for up to 200 years! A popular choice in pet, Greek tortoises are found all over the world in captivity.
In the wild they live in southern Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia. Large populations are found on the coast of the Black Sea. As their geographical range is so large, they live in a variety of habitats, from semi-arid scrublands to green pine woods.
37. Hermann’s tortoise
Small and comical, these tortoises are known for having highly unique personalities and forming strong bonds with their owners – a popular choice of pet for a reptile lover! They are little, growing to just over seven inches in length.
Whilst they don’t have a long life expectancy compared to other tortoise species, it is usual for them to survive for some 50 years. The oldest on record lived for 110 years! One of the Mediterranean tortoises, these charming tortoises live on rocky hillsides, and oak and beech forests along the Mediterranean.
38. Kleinmann’s tortoise (Egyptian tortoise)
The Kleinmann’s or Egyptian tortoise is the smallest of all the tortoise species found along the Mediterranean, and in the whole of the northern hemisphere! They have tiny carapaces and grow to just 3.5 inches in length! You can fit these pocket-sized reptiles in the palm of your hand.
Their shell is colored light brown to protect them from the harsh sun. They live in arid conditions, and often hide amongst nearby vegetation to escape the heat.
39. Marginated tortoise
The Marginated tortoise is the largest Mediterranean tortoise species. They measure some 8.5–15 inches and can weigh up to 11 pounds. They forage for grasses, flowers, and fruit in their habitat and have a varied shell coloration, ranging from black with yellow patterns to a uniform dull brown.
In the wild they live in woodlands, dry scrublands, and arid hillsides in Italy, Greece, Sardinia, Albania, Turkey, and the Balkan Islands.