Largest Turtle Size: A 2.26-meter Giant Turtle vs. a 417-kilogram Tortoise, Who is the Overlord?

There are over 350 extant species of turtles and tortoises worldwide, belonging to 14 families and 95 genera. Today, we will round up the largest among them to see just how amazing these ‘behemoths’ of the turtle world truly are!

Largest Snapping Turtle: Common Snapping Turtle

The Common Snapping Turtle is the ‘powerhouse’ of the snapping turtle family. Not only does it have limbs as thick as pillars and a tail like a steel whip, but its carapace length can typically reach about 50 cm, with extreme individuals even exceeding 60 cm. It can be called a ‘muscular hunk’ among freshwater turtles.

Largest Side-necked Turtle: Giant South American River Turtle

Just by its name, you can tell it’s not small! The carapace of an adult Giant South American river turtle (*Podocnemis expansa*) can reach a maximum length of 1.09 m. Perennially secluded in the Amazon River basin, it is the ‘pinnacle of size’ in the side-necked turtle family.

Largest Tortoise: Galápagos Tortoise

As one of the two extant species of island tortoises, the Galápagos tortoise is a true land ‘behemoth’. The largest individuals have a carapace length of 1.5 m and can weigh up to 417 kilograms. The very famous giant tortoise ‘Lonesome George’ was a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise. The export of this tortoise from the Galápagos Islands is prohibited.

Largest Mud Turtle: Mexican Giant Musk Turtle

The Mexican giant musk turtle is one of the ‘Three Giant Musk Turtles’. The three longitudinal keels on its carapace are particularly conspicuous, and its large head is highly recognizable. As a ‘big guy’ among the ‘egg turtles’ (a collective term for turtles of the Kinosternidae and Sternotherus families, so named because they are typically small and egg-shaped), the carapace of the Mexican giant musk turtle can reach a maximum of 40.2 cm, which is considered ‘behemoth’ level in the ‘egg turtle’ community.

Largest Box Turtle: Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle

The Vietnamese three-striped box turtle (*Cuora cyclornata*) was once mistaken for a close relative of the Chinese three-striped box turtle but was confirmed as a separate species in 2006. The Vietnamese three-striped box turtle is not only vibrant in appearance, but its carapace can also grow to a maximum of 35 cm, making it the ‘size champion’ of the box turtle family.

Largest Sea Turtle: Leatherback Sea Turtle

The Leatherback sea turtle is the undisputed ‘pinnacle of size’ in the turtle world. Its carapace can reach a maximum length of 2.26 m, and it is also the largest extant turtle species by body size. When a Leatherback sea turtle swims in the ocean, it resembles a ‘moving island’ and possesses an immense presence (describing an object that has a powerful and attractive aura and influence).

Largest Semi-aquatic Turtle: Yellow-headed Temple Turtle

The Yellow-headed temple turtle has a dark brown carapace and a head adorned with light yellow markings, giving it a very distinctive appearance. As a ‘big guy’ among semi-aquatic turtles, the carapace of the Yellow-headed temple turtle can reach a maximum of 50 cm, making it a ‘behemoth contender’ in the eyes of semi-aquatic turtle enthusiasts.

Largest Freshwater Hard-shelled Turtle: Malaysian Giant Turtle

The Malaysian giant turtle is the ‘sole member’ of the genus *Orlitia*. Its carapace typically measures around 90 cm in length, and it is rumored that extreme individuals can reach 1.2 m. Keeping a Malaysian giant turtle poses a significant challenge in terms of environmental space, making it a veritable ‘space devourer’ among freshwater turtles.