Timothy (tortoise)
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox animal
Timothy (c. 1844 – 3 April 2004) was a Template:Convert Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, estimated to be about 160 years old at the time of her death. This made her the UK's oldest known animal resident.<ref name=Sky /> In spite of her name, Timothy was female; gender identification for tortoises was not properly known in the 19th century. Timothy was named after a tortoise owned by Gilbert White.Template:Sfnp
Timothy was believed to have been born in the Mediterranean shores of the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey)Template:Sfnp and was found aboard a Portuguese privateer in 1854, aged around 10, by Captain John Guy Courtenay-Everard of the Royal Navy. The tortoise served as a mascot on a series of navy vessels until 1892. She was the ship mascot of Template:HMS during the first bombardment of Sevastopol in the Crimean War (she was the last survivor of this war),<ref name=BBC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> then moved to Template:HMS followed by Template:HMS.<ref name=Sky>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
After her naval service, she retired to live out her life on dry land, taken in by the Earl of Devon at his home, Powderham Castle. From 1935, she lived in the castle's rose garden and was owned by Camilla Gabrielle Courtenay (1913–2010), the daughter of the 16th Earl of Devon.<ref name=BBC /> On her underside was etched "Where have I fallen? What have I done?", English translation of the Courtenay family motto ubi lapsus, quid feci.Template:Sfnp
In 1926, Timothy's owners decided that he should mate, and then "he" was discovered to be actually female.<ref name=Sky /><ref name="Female">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this information, mating attempts were unsuccessful.
Timothy is buried at Powderham Castle.<ref name=BBC />
See alsoEdit
- Jonathan (tortoise), the oldest known living reptile Template:As of (aged Template:Ay)
- Lin Wang, Indian elephant who died on 26 February 2003 (aged 85)
ReferencesEdit
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External linksEdit
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