The secret of eternal life could be hidden in these animals.
There are species of animals capable of living much longer than would be expected, some of them beingvirtually immortal, that is, aging does not affect them at all. They don’t age.
In this article we try to open the window to the great animal diversity, which is also noted in the field of longevity. We will talk strictly about animals, but the longevity in bacteria, fungi and plants can also be greatly exaggerated. Pando, a colony of the “aspen tree” (Populus tremuloides), is a clonal organism with more than 80,000 years of age.
What are the longest-lived animals?
Longevity is a relative term. A dog that lived 50 years would be incredibly long-lived, but from our point of view they are not so long. In this article we will talk about 12 animal species that are among the longest-lived on the planet, but we will see that the longevity differences between them can be immense.
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1. The hydra
Hydras are agenus of cnidarian, like jellyfish or corals. Within the phylum of cnidarians we find very simple animals, with radial symmetry and very simple organs that allow them to differentiate above and below, light, or touch. This phylum is so called because its members usually have cnidocytes, a type of cell that serves to inject stinging poison, the reason that jellyfish can sting us.
Hydras in particular are very interesting because, according to some studies, they arebiologically immortal. This means that they will never die from senescence processes, since they do not present them. It is a tiny freshwater animal with incredible regenerative properties that fascinate scientists.
2. Turritopsis dohrnii
Turritopsis dohrniiis also a cnidarian, closely related to hydras, since it also belongs to the class of hydrozoans. This being is usually known as “the immortal jellyfish” because of its strange way of avoiding death.
When one of these jellyfish decides, usually due to old age or stress, it can transform back into a polyp, a vital phase prior to the jellyfish-free swimming phase . This polyp reproduces asexually, giving rise to a certain number of jellyfish identical to the one that gave rise to the colony. His ability to reverse his life state to dodge death is incredible.
3. The hexactinellides
Hexactinellids, also known as glass sponges or glass sponges , are a class of sponges with a silica skeleton. All of them are marine and some even inhabit the icy seas of the polar regions.
A glassy sponge about 2 meters tall was found 50 meters deep in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. By dating it, scientists estimated it to be about 20,000 years old. Later analysis revealed that this being was actually “barely” about 6000 years old .
4. Xestospongia mutates
As we can see, many of the longest-living animals represent relatively simple life forms. It is also the example of the barrel sponge ( Xestospongia muta ), capable of reaching 2,300 years of age. Another example of the mysteries that the sea holds.
- It may interest you: “The 12 most poisonous animals on the planet”
5. Tardigrades
Tardigrades are a class of tiny animals, about 0.5mm in length. They are also known as water bears, they inhabit fresh water near algae and lichens.
Tardigrades have the peculiarity of being able to enter cryptobiosis , a process by which the organism stops its metabolic activity in order to survive until conditions improve. In their state of cryptobiosis they are capable of withstanding extremely high pressures and even the vacuum of space, being able to revive about 120 years after entering this state.
Scientists do not agree that this means that tardigrades are especially long-lived, since they would be “cheating” by stopping their life until the optimal time to start it again.
6. Carpas Koi
Japanese carp, also known as Koi, is a freshwater fish commonly used as a decoration in gardens. They usually do not live more than 35 years ,
There are several cases of Koi fish capable of reaching very long ages. This is the case of Hanako, a famous scarlet Koi, who passed through several owners until she died with, according to the analysis, 226 years of age.
7. Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark ( Somniosus microcephalus ) is the longest-living vertebrate animal species known to date. This shark, usually blind due to bioluminescent parasites that are placed in its eyes and help it attract prey. It lives in the cold waters of the arctic , which allows it to have an incredibly slow metabolism.
This shark is fully capable of reaching 400 years of age and they never stop growing. Some of the oldest known specimens, about 5.0 m in length, were close to 400 years old, and it is believed that they may reach much older.
8. The Icelandic Clam
The Icelandic clam is a simple bivalve mollusk, like any other oyster. They are small in size, reaching approximately 12 cm in length. In 2006, a unique specimen of this clam was found off the coast of Iceland, which they named Ming.
Ming’s uniqueness was his age, which reached 507 years before his death in a laboratory accident, while his growth rings were being counted. His name, Ming, is due to the fact that his birth had to occur when this dynasty ruled in ancient China.
9. Tuatara
The tuatara are lizards that inhabit New Zealand, although they are currently in danger of extinction. They are very interesting, since they come from an ancient lineage of which there are practically no descendants left, related to the Triassic dinosaurs .
These curious cousins of the dinosaurs have great longevity, as is the case of Henry, a tuatara who became a father for the first time in 2009, at 111 years of age. It is estimated that this species can be more than 250 years old.
10. Some turtles
The international symbol of wisdom and longevity is the tortoise. This animal is known worldwide for its long life, with several centennial and bicentennial specimens known throughout the ages. An example would be Jonathan, a Galapagos tortoise with more than 180 years , who lives on the Island of Saint Helena.
11. The arctic whale
The arctic whale ( Balaena mysticetus ) is a marine animal of more than 15 meters in length and about 100 tons of weight. They are so well adapted to the frigid polar waters that going too far could dangerously overheat them. There are arctic whales that have exceeded 200 years of age .
12. The human being
The human being is a surprisingly long-lived and hardy animal. Our greatest strength is our ability to organize ourselves in societies, capable of overcoming the most abject challenges we can imagine. It is not uncommon to have known or heard of a centenarian, and so far our record is over 120 years of age, which some postulate as “the human biological limit”.
We have no doubt that if we continue to advance in community, the human being will become longer-lived, thanks to advances at the social and technological level.
References
- Boehm, A. M., Khalturin, K., Anton-Erxleben, F., Hemmrich, G., Klostermeier, U. C., Lopez-Quintero, J. A., … Bosch, T. C. (2012). FoxO is a critical regulator of stem cell maintenance in immortal Hydra. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(48), 19697–19702. doi:10.1073/pnas.1209714109
- “George, the Turtle” Excerpted from “National Geographic” on 08/26/2019
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.