What are the Earth’s oldest animals?
This is a question many people have asked themselves, but few know the answer to.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Adwaita)
The longest living animal recorded was Adwaita who lived for two years in captivity.
He is an Aldabra giant tortoise from the Seychelles islands off Africa’s east coast.
What do these animals have in common that allows them to live so long?
We will explore this thought-provoking question with you!
Arctica islandica (Ocean Quahog)
The first animal with the longest recorded life span is a species of clam called Arctica Islandica.
The oldest known member made it to 50 years old.
They can be found in cold water.
There, they are able to slow down their metabolism by as much as 55%.
This places them into a state of ultra-slow motion which adds years to their lives.
Brazilian Tortoise
The second oldest animals are Brazilian tortoises, which can live up to 80 years old in captivity.
They also have a slowed metabolic rate like the clams mentioned above, allowing them to survive for many more years than they otherwise would be able to without it!
Turtle
The fourth animal on this list of old-living beings is the turtle.
This is a no-brainer, as turtles seem to live forever.
In fact, some types of turtles will never stop growing!
It’s possible for them to grow throughout their lives with many past 100 years old.
Parrots and Tortoises
The fifth-oldest animals are parrots and tortoises that both have been known to survive up to 90 years old!
These animals have incredibly long life spans due to their low-stress lives and the fact that they can go without food or water for extended periods of time.
What an amazing thing!
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
Sixth on this list is the Galapagos giant tortoise, which lives up to 80 years old in the wild.
They weigh up to 550 pounds, making them one of the biggest animals on this list.
Bowhead Whale
Next up is the incredible bowhead whale who has been known to live for over 200 years!
In fact, there are still some whales alive today that were born before the United States of America was founded in 1776!
Horseshoe Crab
Last, but definitely not least, is the horseshoe crab who can make it to 50 years old!
So what does all this mean?
It means that there are a variety of animals on Earth who can live to be 120 years or more, which is something we humans have only recently been able to accomplish.
As science and medicine continue to improve over time, however, it is very possible that the life span for people will increase as well.
In the meantime, we can learn a lot from Earth’s oldest animals about how to better take care of our own health and extend our lives as much as possible!
Thanks for reading!
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