(4) Tortoise Explanation: Tortoises generally have lifespans comparable with those of human beings, and some individuals are known to have lived longer thaw. 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China. The oldest tortoise ever recorded, and one of the oldest. individual animals ever recorded, was MI Malila, which was presented to the Tongan royal family by the British explorer Captain Cook shortly after its birth in 1777.