The 'iconic' 95-year-old Myrtle the turtle gets health check

Myrtle the TurtleImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Myrtle arrived at New England Aquarium in 1970 and loves having her shell scratched

This old gal is turtle-y awesome!

Myrtle the turtle is thought to be up to 95-years-old and has been living at the New England Aquarium in Boston for over 50 years.

The green sea turtle has been visited by over 50 million people in that time!

On Tuesday, Myrtle received a check up from vets, who confirmed she's doing well and should "stick around for years to come".

But what goes into a 95-year-old turtle's check up? Read on to find out!

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Myrtle is very big and a much loved resident at the aquarium

Green sea turtle facts
  • Green turtles nest on the coasts of 80 countries around the world!

  • They get their name from the green colour of their fat and cartilage, not their shells.

  • They are 'vegetarian' - also known as herbivorous.

It's no easy task to check Myrtle over though because she weighs 500lb (227kg)! That's around the same weight as an alligator.

She was hoisted out her tank with specialist equipment before the vets checked her flippers, eyes, mouth and nose to make sure she was healthy.

After she was weighed and had a few scans, she was allowed back into her tank where she snacked on lettuce and cabbage with her loggerhead sea turtle friends, Carolina and Retread.

Mike O'Neill is the manager of the ocean tank and said: "She is iconic. She has this multigenerational impact, which is really special.

"One of the really special things we see is parents with their kids who say, 'This is Myrtle, she has been here since when I was a kid.'"