The longest-lived animal in the world has been estimated 15.000 years old, followed by other tremendously long-lived ones who have spent the 500 year old figureSo many years may seem incredible to us, which is why we want to bring you the secret of the great longevity of these animals.
If you are interested discover your secret, as well as what are the longest-lived animals in existenceDon't miss the article we have today about all of this.
The longest-living animal in the world
It won't take us long to reveal which is the longest-lived animal in the world, They are sponges. Some types of sponges can live for thousands of years, making them remarkable examples of longevity in the animal kingdom. However, they are not the only animals that live for many years. Others, such as some species of turtles, whales and certain mollusks such as the Iceland clam that can live more than 500 years.
Longevity is a very important thing. variable according to the animal species and environmental conditions in which it develops. This is the reason why, instead of talking only about sponges, we are going to talk about the 5 longest-living animals and why they live so long.
1. The longest-living animal in the world: the Antarctic sponge
This kind of sponge (Anoxycalyx joubini) holds the record for longevity in the animal world. At a specimen of approximately 2 meters has been estimated to be about 15.000 years old. To another sponge specimen of Monorhaphis chuni which is located in the China Sea has been calculated 11.000 years. With these figures, it is clear that few animals could take the title of longest-lived animal from these sponges.
Among sponges and corals is where specimens with a longevity of thousands of years have been found.. According to scientists, the long lifespan of these specimens is an advantage that comes in exchange for their simplicity. These animals possess a large number of stem cells that They are able to regenerate and rejuvenate their cells constantly. We could say that they are eternally young, not to say that they are immortal, since there are actually ways in which these animals could die.
2. The Iceland Clam or Arctica islandica
The Iceland clam is undoubtedly the second longest-lived type of animal in existence, easily reaching 500 years of age. One specimen in particular is known, called the "Ming" which was about 507 years old when it was discovered.
The secret of the longevity of these clams lies in the fact that they have a slow metabolism which helps your cells wear down very slowly giving them a longer life. The environment in which they live also has a lot to do with it since they are cold and calm waters where There is virtually no environmental stress. In addition to the environment, they have little predation, as their lifestyle allows them to avoid most predators.
Just as we talked about the impressive cellular repair of sponges and corals, the Iceland clam also has a type of efficient mechanism for repairing cellular damage and regenerating. Although certainly nothing comparable to the aforementioned sponges.
3. The Greenland shark
The average life span that this species of shark can reach is between 272 and 500 years. With such a great ability to live for hundreds of years, it is normal that it is the third longest-lived animal species.
Studies carried out on these sharks seem to suggest that they can live for so many years. due to slow development. They grow a single centimeter per year and reach sexual maturity at 150 years of age. This slowdown is largely due to the habitat, located in extremely cold waters which cause metabolism and cellular activity to slow down. The passing of time passes slowly for these animals, thus lengthening their life expectancy.
4. The Greenland Whale
Until recently, it was thought that the bowhead whale lived approximately 70 years. However, studies in recent years have revealed that some specimens have reached ages between 150 and 200 years. These findings have increased the life expectancy of these whales and placed them in fourth place among long-lived animals.
These whales, also known as bowhead whales, unlike other species of whales, do not migrate to feed or reproduce. This means that spends its entire life in extremely cold waters as happens with the previous case of the shark.
These whales have adapted to freezing temperatures and have evolved to not have a dorsal fin when swimming in icy waters. They move more slowly than other whales, which helps them avoid overheating.
5. Shaved mouse
Quite a bit further away from the hundreds and thousands of years that the previous animals can live, the ratopin can reach 31 years age. It may seem like a small thing to us, but We are talking about a rodent which lives on average between 5 and 10 years, so the case of the ratopín deserves to be on this list.
Something interesting about this species is that its Great resistance to cancer and other diseases typical of age or old age. They have the ability to maintain enviable cardiovascular health, and they also have the ability to protect their telomeres (the ends of chromosomes) that other animals lose as they age. For this reason, they are key animals in research on cellular longevity and in preventing age-related diseases.
General reasons for becoming a long-lived animal
As we have been able to verify, those animals subjected to cold temperatures They manage to extend their life by lengthening the entire growth process through slowing it down.
Another interesting fact is the cell renewal and telomere protection, where the key to staying young lies and where some studies are focusing on achieving a longer life with quality, health, and youth.
Therefore, knowing the reasons why some animal species live long can benefit other animals and people to extend our lives.
