12/31/2023 0 Comments Oldest animal age![]() ![]() ![]() Floating in water takes immense weight off limbs and joints, meaning bodies can grow massive. When it comes to finding the oldest living animals, there’s really only one place to look - the ocean. Bowhead Whale and the Greenland Shark: Cold is key They also lead a stress-free life in their dark homes, without any predators to worry about. These milky-white salamanders are extremely inactive, saving energy and only moving when it’s time to feed or breed. The olm doesn’t have a slow metabolism like other long-lived animals. But for a small animal, their maximum lifespan is incredible - roughly 102 years! In its dark, watery home, the olm takes nearly 16 years to reach maturity and even then, only reproduces every 12 years. They are a strange species of salamander that evolved in the pitch-black caves of southern Europe, where the lack of light resulted in their reduced eyesight. Researchers have been running a long-term study on their population in the wild, monitoring some individuals that are over 40 years of age! Quite impressive for a 5 cm long amphibian!īut one of the longest-lived amphibians almost looks long in the tooth, even when young - blind, pale and slender, the ‘olm’ is a champion among aging amphibians. The Maud Island frog from New Zealand is a real old-timer. Many frog and salamander species can actually live to 10 or 20 years. There are some reptiles that are well-known for their longevity - sea turtles can live to around 80 and there are records of some giant tortoises living to 250!īut we don’t usually give much thought to their slimy-skinned cousins, the amphibians. This ability is special among mammals and could offer some hope for humans trying to avoid age-related diseases in the future. Their bodies avoid the cellular and physical degradation that normally comes with age and they remain youthful and healthy, even in their final years of life. As most mammals grow older, their risk of dying increases rapidly - but not mole rats. These mole rats also have another trick up their sleeve - they don’t age. Most similarly sized rodents live for about 6 years but naked mole rats can survive beyond 30 years, even remaining fertile in old age. These small social mammals live in large underground colonies and can live much longer than you would expect. They’re impervious to some types of pain, resistant to cancer and able to survive without oxygen for up to 18 minutes!Īnd when it comes to aging, the wrinkly pink rodents are one of a kind. Since they share a likeness to a sausage on legs with teeth - the naked mole rat can’t be considered one of nature’s ‘prettiest’ creatures, but they do have some very peculiar traits. With a slower metabolism and heart rate, larger animals have extended longevity.īut there are some animals that live unexpectedly long lives, and they may surprise you. For small animals, life can move very quickly, and maintaining a high heart rate and metabolism wears out their bodies within a year or two (mice, shrews), but some of the bigger mammals can stick around a lot longer. Wikipedia (Public Domain), 1.In the animal world, bigger animals often live longer. Minette Layne from Seattle, Washington, USA, Orca porpoising, CC BY 2.0, 3. Anton 17, Lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis), CC BY-SA 4.0, 4. Charlesjsharp, Black rhino Kalahari, CC BY-SA 3.0, 5. Karen Luise Knudsen, Ming clam shell WG061294R, CC BY 3.0, 6.Postdlf from w, American Alligator, CC BY-SA 3.0, 8. ![]() Julielangford, Orangutan-bornean, CC BY 3.0, 9. Daughter#3, Cecil the lion at Hwange National Park (4516560206), CC BY-SA 2.0, 12. Photo via Twitter (Fair Use: Illustrative Purposes Only), 14. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Bowhead-1 Kate Stafford edit (16272151841), CC BY-SA 2.0, 18. Photo via Twitter (Fair Use: Illustrative Purposes Only), 20. Guiness Book of World Records (Fair use: Illustrative Use Only), 23. anonymous, Sphenodon punctatus in Waikanae, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, 24. ![]()
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