Human life expectancy today is around 80 years and can vary from region to region of the world. For many of us, this life expectancy is comparatively very short, while for other people it is a reasonable life expectancy, especially when compared to the animal kingdom, where there are animals that live even less than a year.
However, there are other animals that have absurdly longer life expectancies than ours. And given this situation, today we have decided to present the 7 animals with the longest life expectancy in the animal kingdom. You will be surprised how long some animals can live. But enough of wasting time, let’s try it from now on!
7. Giant Galapagos Tortoise 152 years old
The Galápagos tortoise is a special species of turtle that lives on the Galápagos Islands in the vast Pacific Ocean. This magnificent creature is characterized by its exceptional longevity, reaching up to 152 years of life, making it one of the longestlived reptiles on the planet. The Galápagos tortoise has a slow metabolism and a reduced rate of cell division, characteristics that play a fundamental role in protecting against the effects of aging.
Another fascinating aspect is its ability to regulate body temperature, which serves as an effective protection against the adversities of the environment in which it lives. Additionally, these majestic turtles are among the largest in the world. Males weigh an incredible 227 kg (500 pounds) on average, while females have an average weight of around 113 kg (250 pounds).
Galapagos tortoises have a long metabolism, giving them remarkable resistance to hunger and disease. They have the impressive ability to survive without food or water for up to a year. In addition, these turtles lead a calm rhythm of life, chewing grass and other plants and enjoying the sun for up to 16 hours a day.
6. Bowhead Whale 172 years old
Greenland’s majestic whales boast incredible longevity, exceeding the impressive 200year mark! A notable example is the record of a female captured on the coast of Alaska, estimated to have been between 115 and 130 years old.
However, other of these magnificent creatures have exceeded expectations even further and reached surprising ages, such as 135 or even an astonishing 172 years. In one exceptional case, scientists even identified a specimen that reached the incredible age of around 211 years, far exceeding original estimates.
The secret to this remarkable longevity lies in specific genetic mutations in bowhead whales. A crucial gene called ERCC1, which plays a crucial role in repairing damaged DNA, appears to give these majestic creatures a unique resistance and protect them from possible diseases such as cancer.
In addition, another wellknown gene, PCNA, has a duplicated section that is related to cell growth and repair. This genetic duplication appears to help delay the whales’ natural aging process, making them true wonders of nature.
Also read | The 7 shortestlived animals in the world
5. RoughEyed Wrasse 205 years old
Another animal that is characterized by its longevity is the Rougheye Rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus), also called “Rougheye Rockfish” in English. This amazing species has the ability to live an incredible 205 years, making it one of the longestlived fish around.
Rougheyed wrasses live in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and can reach a length of up to 97 centimeters. Their diet includes a variety of prey, such as shrimp and even smaller fish.
4. River mussel 280 years old
The river mussel, scientifically known as Margaritifera, is a species of mussel that feeds by filtering food particles from fresh water. These remarkable creatures are found in rivers in Europe and North America. Surprisingly, the oldest known river mussel lived to be an incredible 280 years old.
Due to its very slow metabolism, this invertebrate is able to achieve such longevity. However, it is unfortunate that the river mussel population is declining due to damage and changes to river habitats caused by human activity.
3. Greenland Shark 512 years old
Greenland sharks, also known as Somniosus microcephalus for their large size, are true inhabitants of the depths of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. These majestic creatures can reach an incredible 7.3 meters in length and feed on a variety of other marine life, including fish and marine mammals such as agile seals, as documented by the respected St. Lawrence Shark Observatory in Canada.
However, what truly fascinates scientists and marine life enthusiasts is the extraordinary longevity of these sharks. A remarkable 2016 study estimated that these impressive creatures can have a lifespan of at least 272 years. The longestlived specimen in this study surprised everyone by reaching the impressive age of 392 years. Such bold discoveries have led scientists to hypothesize that some of these Greenland sharks could even exceed the incredible mark of 512 years of life!
2. Sea Sponge More than 5,000 years old
Corals, sponges and other creatures that live in the depths of the ocean enjoy natural protection from temperature fluctuations and violent storms that pose a deadly threat to animals living in shallower waters. This condition, which often results in death in these shallow sea creatures, has given these organisms a remarkable evolutionary advantage, allowing them to live exceptionally long lives because they are less susceptible to accidental injury.
Estimates of the longevity of sponges, for example, can vary considerably, but often range up to thousands of years.
1. Immortal Jellyfish Immortal
Have you ever imagined the possibility of being immortal? To grow older and, instead of completing the journey, go back in time and start all over again as a baby? To us it seems like a daydream, a mere dream. However, for immortal jellyfish, this is a surprising reality. These extraordinary creatures begin their life cycle as larvae, called planulae, floating in the vast seas. They then settle on the seafloor, transform into static polyps, and then transform into freeswimming jellyfish. So far everything seems normal.
However, what is truly impressive is the unique ability of immortal jellyfish to return to the polyp stage and resume their flight path when they suffer injuries or are exposed to stressful situations due to changes in their environment. And surprisingly, they can repeat this process multiple times if given the opportunity. It is important to note that not all of them will have this chance, many of them become prey for other sea creatures.