7 Longest-Living Animals on Earth
Greenland Shark (272+ years)
Found in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates on Earth. They can grow up to 24 feet long and eat a variety of other animals, including seals.
Credit:
X
Tubeworm (300+ years)
Tubeworms are invertebrates that live on the ocean floor. They feed on bacteria that create sugars from chemicals in their tubes. Some tube worms can live up to 300 years, making them one of the longest-living animals on Earth.
Credit:
X
Ocean Quahog Clam (500+ years)
Ocean quahog clams live in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are the longest-living bivalves on Earth, with one specimen found off the coast of Iceland being 507 years old.
Credit:
X
Black Coral (4,000+ years)
Black corals are found in deep water and can live for thousands of years. One specimen found off the coast of Hawaii was radiocarbon dated to be 4,265 years old.
Credit:
X
Glass Sponge (10,000+ years)
Glass sponges are also found in deep water and can live for thousands of years. One specimen found off the coast of California was estimated to be about 11,000 years old.
Credit:
X
Turritopsis dohrnii (potentially immortal)
Turritopsis dohrnii is a species of jellyfish that is native to the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike other jellyfish, which die after they reproduce, T. dohrnii can revert back to its polyp stage and start its life cycle over again.
Credit:
X
Hydra (potentially immortal)
Hydra is a group of small invertebrates that also have the potential to live forever. This is because they are largely made up of stem cells, which continually regenerate making them seem to not age, so potentially, they are immortal.
Credit:
X
View More Web Stories