There are many animals both on land and in the sea that have incredibly long lifespans. Let's talk about a few!
Did you know the oldest human on record lived to be 122 years old? How old are you?
As for the four-legged, elephants in captivity can live to be 80 years old. That may seem old to you, but the oldest living land animal is currently Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise. At the time of this post in July 2023, Jonathan is approximately 190 years old. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, tortoises are believed to be the longest lived of all animals... but it's hard to prove because they outlive the scientists who study them! There was an Aldabra giant tortoise named Adwaita who reportedly lived to be around 255!
Who else lives long and prospers? Our fintastic friends under the sea! Bowhead whales can live over 200 years, as can the ocean quahog (which doesn't have fins at all — it's a type of clam). In fact, a 507-year-old clam named Ming holds the Guinness World Record for oldest animal ever.
Greenland sharks are the world's oldest vertebrates, or animals with a backbone. They can clock in at a jaw-dropping 300 to 500 years, according to National Geographic! Not to be outdone, certain sea sponges have been around for at least a thousand years. Just think, there are sponges out there older than most countries.
And let's have a round of applause for our most aged star: the immortal jellyfish. How can that be possible? The immortal jellyfish starts out as a larva (known as a planula) and grows into a static polyp. It then transforms into its adult form, a swimming medusa. If it gets injured — wait for it — it reverts to a polyp and starts the whole cycle again. The immortal jellyfish can continue in this way over and over and over... well, unless it gets eaten.
