There are species on Earth that have remarkable longevity, surpassing the average human lifespan by far.
Some of them even seem to defy aging altogether, staying young and healthy for centuries.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 longest living animals in the world, and learn about their secrets of survival.
10 Animals that live longer
10. Macaw: 80 years
Macaws are colorful and intelligent birds that belong to the parrot family. They can live up to 80 years in captivity, but their lifespan in the wild is much shorter due to predators, diseases, and habitat loss.
Macaws are native to the rainforests of Central and South America, where they feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, and flowers.
They are social animals that form strong bonds with their mates and other members of their flock. Macaws can also mimic human speech and other sounds, making them popular as pets.
9. African Elephant: 70 years
African elephants are the largest living land animals, weighing up to 6 tons and measuring up to 4 meters at the shoulder.
They can live up to 70 years in the wild, but their population is threatened by poaching, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict.
African elephants are herbivores that consume up to 200 kg of vegetation per day. They live in matriarchal groups called herds, led by the oldest and most experienced female.
Elephants have a remarkable memory and can recognize and communicate with other individuals over long distances.
8. Longfin Eel: 106 years
Longfin eels are freshwater fish that inhabit streams and rivers in New Zealand and Australia. They can grow up to two meters in length and weigh up to 25 kg.
They can live up to 106 years, making them the longest living freshwater fish in the world. Longfin eels are carnivorous and feed on fish, crustaceans, frogs, birds, and mammals.
They are nocturnal and secretive animals that hide under rocks and logs during the day. Longfin eels have an amazing life cycle that involves a long migration to the Pacific Ocean to breed and die.
7. Galapagos Giant Tortoise: 152 years
Galapagos giant tortoises are the largest living tortoises in the world, weighing up to 250 kg and measuring up to 1.5 meters in length.
They can live up to 152 years, making them the oldest living reptiles in the world.
Galapagos giant tortoises are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, where they have evolved into different subspecies adapted to different habitats and diets.
They are herbivores that feed on grasses, cacti, fruits, and flowers. They can survive for long periods without food or water by storing fat in their shells and necks.
6. Red Sea Urchin: 200 years
Red sea urchins are spiny marine animals that belong to the echinoderm family, along with starfish and sea cucumbers.
They can live up to 200 years, making them the longest living invertebrates in the world. Red sea urchins are found in shallow waters along the Pacific coast of North America, where they feed on algae and kelp.
They have a spherical body covered with long spines that protect them from predators and help them move around. They also have a mouth with five teeth that can scrape off food from rocks.
Also Read: Marine Mammal Species Live Longer In Zoological Institutions Than In Wild, Study Finds
5. Bowhead Whale: 211 years
Bowhead whales are massive marine mammals that belong to the baleen whale family, along with blue whales and humpback whales.
They can live up to 211 years, making them the longest living mammals in the world. Bowhead whales are found in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas, where they feed on plankton and small fish.
They have a thick layer of blubber that insulates them from the cold water and a large head that helps them break through ice.
Bowhead whales are also known for their complex vocalizations that may serve as communication or navigation.
4. Rougheye Rockfish: 205+ years
Rougheye rockfish are deep-sea fish that belong to the rockfish family, along with salmon and trout. They can live over 205 years, making them one of the longest living vertebrates in the world.
Rougheye rockfish are found in the North Pacific Ocean, where they inhabit rocky slopes and seamounts at depths of up to 900 meters.
They are carnivorous and feed on shrimp, squid, and other fish. They have a reddish-brown body with black spots and a distinctive eye with a rough ridge above it.
3. Freshwater Pearl Mussel: 250 years
Freshwater pearl mussels are bivalve mollusks that live in rivers and lakes in Europe, Asia, and North America.
They can live up to 250 years, making them the longest living freshwater animals in the world.
Freshwater pearl mussels are filter feeders that siphon water through their gills and extract organic particles and oxygen.
They have a shiny shell that can produce pearls when irritated by foreign objects. They also have a complex life cycle that involves a parasitic larval stage that attaches to the gills of fish.
2. Greenland Shark: 400+ years
Greenland sharks are large and elusive sharks that belong to the sleeper shark family, along with the Pacific sleeper shark and the southern sleeper shark.
They can live over 400 years, making them the longest living vertebrates in the world. Greenland sharks are found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, where they feed on fish, seals, polar bears, and even reindeer.
They have a slow metabolism and a low body temperature that may contribute to their longevity. They also have a toxic flesh that can cause intoxication if consumed.
1. Immortal Jellyfish: Potentially immortal
Immortal jellyfish are small and transparent jellyfish that belong to the hydrozoan family, along with fire corals and Portuguese man o' war.
They have a unique ability to revert to their juvenile stage after reaching maturity, making them potentially immortal.
They have a bell-shaped body with tentacles that can sting their prey and predators. They also have a complex life cycle that involves a colonial stage called a polyp and a free-swimming stage called a medusa.
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