TOP 10 long-lived animals

There are more than 8 million animal species on our planet, and each of them has its own life span, that is, the average time that individuals of this species live. And for everyone, this duration is different. animals in their natural habitat rarely reach their maximum age due to disease, harsh conditions, predators, habitat destruction and the struggle for survival. All this leads to high mortality in the wild. Based on information on the average lifespan of each species, we present you with ten long-lived animals.

10. Macaw parrots

Macaws are large parrots with bright plumage and long tail. There are 19 species of these birds in the world, including those on the verge of extinction and extinct, information about which is based on the words of their last eyewitnesses. Most macaws are wild, but there are also species that have completely disappeared in the wild. For example, the blue macaw has almost disappeared from the wild today. Parrots of this genus range in size from 50 centimeters to a meter in length, including the tail. Moving on to their lifespan, we can say that they can live up to 60 and even 80 years, while only 30-35 years old are able to reproduce. Small-sized species do not live so long, but large ones, for the most part, reach the mark of 50 years or more.

9. African elephants

Today in the genus of African elephants there are two species: the bush elephant and the smaller forest elephant. In addition to this genus, there are also Indian elephants, their relatives. The African bush elephant is the largest land animal living today, and its forest cousin is the third largest. Their stocky body with a broad back rests on heavy legs. Large ears are a device for cooling the body: firstly, excess heat simply leaves through them, and secondly, elephants fan them like a fan. The upper lip and nose form a trunk. The life expectancy of the world's largest animal is 70 years. And recent research has shown that female African elephants are able to reproduce from puberty until the end of their lives.

8. Galapagos turtles

Galapagos turtles, or, as they are also called, elephant turtles, are the largest turtles on the planet. In addition, these are some of the laziest animals in the world, as they rest almost 16 hours a day! Once upon a time, elephant turtles were common on all continents except Antarctica. Since the Galapagos turtles are inhabitants of the small islands of the Galapagos archipelago, each individual island has formed its own subspecies of these animals.

The temperature at which the turtle's eggs are found influences who will hatch the most: boys or girls. At higher temperatures, more males will appear. In addition, due to the peculiarities of their digestion and the ability to store impressive volumes of water, they can do without food and moisture throughout the year.

So, the Galapagos turtles are the largest, and in most cases their age exceeds a hundred. The record was set by a turtle that lived for 152 years. The most famous elephant turtle was Lonely George, a member of one of the extinct subspecies that lived to be 100 years old and was still considered a young animal. He was the last of his species to live on the shores of the Galapagos Islands.

7. Acne

Eels are an order of fish that includes 20 families, 111 genera and about 800 species. Most eels are predators. The concept of "eel" is sometimes applied to fish with a characteristic elongated body shape, but not having any relation to the order of eels. For example, the victim of such confusion was the electric eel, which, in fact, has no relationship with real eels, but is a representative of the Gymont-like order. The following can be said about the appearance of acne. These are elongated fish, the body length of which varies from 5 cm to 4 m, and the weight is from 30 grams. up to 25 kg. The largest fish of its order is the giant moray eel. These animals do not have a swim bladder, but many of the pectoral and caudal fins are joined into one long one.

The life span of the eel reaches 150 years. Over the course of their entire life, these fish lay more than four million eggs.

6. tuatara

The tuatara are reptiles that live in New Zealand. Despite the fact that they look like common lizards, they are a very special ancient species. The name "tuatara" is translated from the Maori language as "ridges on the back". The modern species of tuatara are the only heirs to the reptiles that flourished 200 million years ago. The tuatara are pale green in color, reaching a length of 80 centimeters from head to tip of tail and weighing about 1.3 kg. They have a ridge on their back, and in females it has more sharp protrusions. They have a unique arrangement of teeth: the row of teeth on the lower jaw fits perfectly between the two rows of the upper one when the tuatara closes its mouth. This reptile grows the slowest in the world. Its growth has been going on for 35 years. Typically, the tuatara lives for 150 years, but some of them reach 200.

5. Koi fish

Koi are a species of Amur carp. These are bright fish that many associate with Japan. They are easy to recognize by their characteristic bright and interesting coloration. It usually includes whites, reds, yellows, blues, creams, or dark shades. The Carp family unites a large number of fish living in central Europe and Asia. Some species were artificially bred in the eastern part of Asia, where they were eaten. Carp prefer cold water, and their ability to survive and adapt to natural conditions has made it possible for tamed species to live in various areas, including Japan. The lifespan of koi fish reaches 200 years. In Japan, they are popular pets that are kept for decorative purposes in ponds and aquariums.

4. Bowhead whale

A dark, stocky whale without a dorsal fin reaches a length of 18 meters. These massive animals weigh between 75 and 100 tons. They live in groups in arctic and subarctic waters, unlike other whales that prefer more habitable areas for life and breeding. The bowhead whale is also called the polar whale. American whalers called these animals Russian or sharp-backed whales. Bowhead whales have the largest mouth of any living creature.

The bowhead whale has been living for over 200 years. For a human or a turtle, 100 years is a considerable age, but for our whale it is only the middle of an amazingly long life.

3. Greenland polar shark

The Greenlandic polar shark, or small-headed shark, or arctic shark, is a large member of the Somniosis shark family, which also includes the Pacific shark. The difference between these species is that some live in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, while others in the Arctic. They have the longest life span among vertebrates - over 270 years. In addition, it is one of the largest sharks. Life at great depths made the meat of this animal unsuitable for human consumption. Due to the high content of trimethylamine in shark tissues, shark flesh is poisonous. However, in Iceland, meat is processed to reduce the level of poison and is eaten.

2. Oceanic venus

The seashell called Oceanic Venus, or Arctica Islandica in Latin, is a bivalve mollusc from the family with the complex name Arcticidae. Shells live in the Arctic Ocean. These molluscs are eaten.Outwardly, the oceanic venus is a dark brown shell, and inside, everything is filled with the body of a mollusk. Usually the animal buries deep in the ground. The shell reaches a size of 5 centimeters. Analysis of one individual showed that the mollusk lived for 507 years, making it the animal with the longest lifespan, whose age has been accurately determined.

1. Immortal jellyfish

Immortal jellyfish, perhaps, can be called God in the flesh. It was found in the Mediterranean Sea and the waters of Japan. It is the only creature known to be able to return to the beginning of life when stressed or injured. A unique marine life that can become young again, return to adolescence.

The immortal jellyfish is the longest living animal, if animals can live forever. Recent research suggests that this jellyfish goes from old to young through a process known as “life reprogramming,” in which one type of cell is replaced by another. An immortal jellyfish can do this trick over and over for ages. Whatever happens - starvation, physical harm to health or other cataclysm - this animal will simply change old cells for younger ones and will live on.