More than 100 years old, a Greenland shark found stranded on a beach in Cornwall (England) last year died in its mid-teens. This is because the species can live up to 500 years, being the tallest vertebrate on Earth.
While this is indeed an impressive lifespan, it falls far short of the longevity of the world’s tallest animal – it can be up to 11,000 years old!
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Check out the longest living animals in the world
The mammal with the longest known gestation period Bowhead whales They are also the most long-lived of this subclass of vertebrates. Although the lifespan is unknown, the harpoon tips found on some individuals indicate that this animal lived comfortably for over a century and could live up to 200 years old.
typical of the Pacific Ocean (from California to Japan), where it feeds on small animals such as shrimp and small fish, rougheye-wrasse It can reach a length of 97 cm and lives approx 205 years old.
Found in rivers and streams in Europe and North America, river mussels are animals with a slow metabolism that, in order to feed themselves, filter food particles from the water. according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the oldest mussels It was already known 280 years old.
A study published in the journal physics In 2017 it was discovered that Escarpia laminataa deep-sea species found in the Gulf of Mexico, typically lives for up to 200 years, with some specimens surviving for more than 200 years 300. According to research, those tube worms They have a low mortality rate because they suffer from few natural threats and lack of predators.
Ocean Quahog They are molluscs that live in the North Atlantic Ocean. A specimen of the species was found in 2006 off the coast of Iceland 507 years oldAccording to the National Museum of Wales in the United Kingdom.
Inhabitants of the depths of the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean Greenland sharks They feed on other animals, including fish and marine mammals such as seals. These predators can reach 7.3 meters in length and even live 512 years old.
- Black coral in deep water
Although they look like colorful underwater rocks and plants, corals are actually made up of invertebrate exoskeletons called polyps, which reproduce, creating a genetically identical clone added to the group.
All types of corals can live to be over 100 years old, however Black coral in deep water (Leiopathes sp.) Among those that go to great lengths – specimens found off the coast of Hawaii have been identified 4265 years.
Like corals, sponges are also formed from colonies of animals and can live for thousands of years, focusing on the so-called glass sponge. A study published in the journal chemical geology In 2012 I reported a sample of Monorhaphis chuni With the esteemed 11 thousand years.
No, you didn’t read that wrong – some animals are considered immortal, such as Jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii, For example. This tiny sea creature can turn back its biological clock, creating a mass of baby cells (even if it has already reproduced sexually). Returning to its juvenile state, it can also reproduce asexually, cloning polyps from itself, giving it two ways to spread its genetic material.
Another case of immortality occurs with hydra. These animals, which live in temperate and tropical regions, have an unlimited ability to self-renew their own stem cells.
with location information animal life.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.