One of the most fascinating bits about the animal kingdom is the ability of some animals to outlive others. Interestingly, some animals can survive so long that they only die when preyed on or their habitats become unconducive. Here, we delve deeper into the list of the longest-living animals. We will also dig deeper into the adaptations that enable them to thrive for many years.
What Is the Longest Living Animal?
The ocean quahog, one of the species of clams, holds the record as the longest-living animal on Earth. Famous worldwide, “Ming” lived up to 507 years before researchers accidentally killed it. These clams owe their great longevity to their ability to retard their metabolism in cold and deep waters.
Are There Animals That Live Forever?
In the animal kingdom, there exist virtually immortal animals. This segment discusses some of them.
Immortal Jellyfish
Biologically immortal jellyfish can repeatedly make themselves young by returning to their sexually immature stages. To put this into perspective, it’s like a butterfly returning to being a caterpillar. However, immortal jellyfish can be eaten by predators or killed by other factors.
Hydra
Hydras have stem cells that infinitely self-renew. Their regeneration capability makes them incapable of experiencing aging.
Flatworms
Recent research adds pond and lake flatworms to the list of possibly immortal creatures. They are proven to regenerate throughout by growing new skin, muscle, and even a new brain. Hence, they don’t age.
Top 10 Longest Living Animals
Besides the few “immortal” animals named above, living forever isn’t virtually possible for most animals. However, some live relatively longer. Below are the top 10 longest-living animals based on their body size and habitat.
Antarctic Sponge
Some species of Antarctic sponge, like the giant volcano sponge, have a lifespan of up to 15 years. Their deep-sea habitats see to it that their growth and other biological processes occur at a snail’s pace.
Glass Sponges
Believed to have lived through the last ice age, it is among the oldest living animals on the planet. While they look like rocks or plants, they are animals. They use up the entirety of their lives attached to rocks, filter-feeding on plankton.
Black Coral
The average lifespan of black coral is about 70 years. However, some deep-sea dwelling species, about 300 meters and below, have been found to live more than 4000 years. They are known to be the longest-living coral species.
Giant Barrel Sponge
Normally living at a sea depth of more than 30 feet, the giant barrel sponge looks like a copper-colored stone barrel. It has been called the “redwood of the reef” because of its 2000 years and longer lifespan.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Adwaita, a popular Indian zoo tortoise, lived to see its 255th birthday. It died in the same year but remains the oldest known terrestrial animal to ever live on Earth.
Tubeworm
A typical tubeworm’s life span is about 100 to 200 years, and lives in deep-sea cold seeps. However, some can reach 300 years, while others can live up to 1000 years.
Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark is the longest-living fish in the world and the longest-living vertebrate. It has an average lifespan of about 250 years, but others can live up to 500. One characteristic that contributes to its longevity is its slow metabolism and cold habitat.
Bowhead Whales
Bowhead whales are considered the longest-living mammals. They are known for their sizeable bow-shaped head that makes up a third of their whole body. These whales are believed to live for more than 200 years. They are, however, threatened by commercial whaling.
Rougheye Rockfish
Also known as the blackthroat rockfish, the rougheye rockfish grows to about a meter. More intriguingly, the rougheye rockfish live up to 205 years. Its name, “rougheye” comes from the dozen spines on its lower eyelid.
Red Sea Urchin
Sea urchins can generate damaged or lost spines. Their lifespan goes beyond 30 years, with some going as long as 200 years. They were initially thought to live about 7 to 10 years but later confirmed to have much longer lifespans.
Honorable Mention of The Longest Living Animals
Here are some honorable mentions of the longest-living animals from different categories:
The Longest Living Human
Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman, takes the title of the longest-lived land mammal whose age was verified. She lived for 122 years and 164 days, outliving her grandson and daughter despite being a regular smoker. Her long life, going well over a century, enabled her to witness several historical events.
Longest Living Bird
One sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cocky Bennett, is renowned as the longest-living bird. It lived to see its 120th year despite cockatoos having an eighty-year lifespan. Cocky Bennett was owned by Captain Ellis, who, with the help of the other crew members, trained it to talk.
Longest Living Crocodile
In South Africa, a 16-foot and 700-kilogram Nile crocodile named Henry has lived in captivity for decades. Henry was born on December 16, 1900, and is now 124 years old. This massive crocodile was known to feed on local children before it was captured and has lived in captivity since then.
Longest-living Cat
The longest-lived cat is a domestic cat popularly known as Crème Puff. She was the oldest cat ever to live, and that was documented in the Guinness World Records. At the age of 38 years and 3 days, she died. Its owner, Jake Perry, claimed that red wine is the secret to its longevity.
Longest-living Dog
The longest-living dog was Bluey, who lived for 29 years and 5 months. Briefly, another dog, Bobi, was said to have lived the longest, for about 31 years, but was later stripped of the title. Bluey, the Australian cattle dog whose death occurred in 1939, takes the title.
Longest-Living Horse
The longest-living horse on record goes by the name Old Billy, a British barge horse that died at 62 years old on November 27, 1822. His age was verified, and his head was taxidermied after his death. His head is now at the Manchester Museum for all to see.
