There are the growth annuli on the carapace and the plastron of all age grades of Testudo horsfieldi. According to the comparative analysis

growth annuli can be regarded as the growth ring. One growth ring represents one year through the observations in the artifical feeding. The growth rings were recorded through the observations in the field. The maturity of T. horsfieldi can be achieved at about 10 years in males and at about 12 years in females respectively

but the growing speed of the females is faster than that of the males. The age models established by the growth ring and carapace length or carapace width predict that the large tortoise (carapace length>180mm) may exceed 24 years in field populations of Xinjiang. The expected longevity would be 28 years.