Humans are one of the species with a relatively long lifespan, which tends to increase alongside advancements in modern medicine. Scientific and medical progress has helped treat many chronic diseases, thereby extending human life expectancy. However, when compared to the 15 longest-living animal species listed below, an adult human is akin to a newborn in the animal kingdom.
Top Longest-Living Animal Species in the World
- 16. New Zealand Longfin Eel
- 15. Lamellibrachia Tube Worm
- 14. Tuatara
- 13. Elephant Trunk Shell
- 12. Rougheye Rockfish
- 11. Red Sea Urchin
- 10. Bowhead Whale
- 9. Koi Fish
- 8. Vestimentiferan Tube Worm
- 7. Greenland Shark
- 6. Freshwater Mussel
- 5. Tortoise
- 4. Quahog Clam
- 3. Antarctic Sponge
- 2. Black Coral
- 1. Immortal Jellyfish
16. New Zealand Longfin Eel
The New Zealand longfin eel is native to New Zealand and Australia, with a typical lifespan of up to 60 years, and the longest recorded individual lived for 106 years.
Similar to blue sharks, these eels grow very slowly, which contributes to their longevity.
15. Lamellibrachia Tube Worm
These colorful marine creatures live along hydrocarbon vents on the seabed. They have an average lifespan of about 170 years, but many scientists believe some individuals may live up to 250 years. Lamellibrachia grows slowly throughout its life, reaching lengths of over 182 cm. This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in shallow areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
14. Tuatara
The two existing species of Tuatara are the only surviving members of a group of animals that thrived 200 million years ago, essentially living dinosaurs. They are also among the vertebrates with the longest lifespans, ranging from 100 to 200 years.
13. Elephant Trunk Shell
Originating from the Northwest Pacific, the elephant trunk shell can live for over 165 years. In the first four years of its life, it grows rapidly, averaging over 2.5 cm per year. With its long “neck” (or siphon), the body of the elephant trunk shell can exceed 90 cm, while the outer shell typically does not grow longer than 20.3 cm. This species of saltwater clam is native to Puget Sound and is believed to live at least 160 years.
12. Rougheye Rockfish
Rougheye is one of the fish species with the longest lifespans, growing very slowly and taking decades to reach maturity. The lifespan of Rougheye can extend up to 200 years, with the longest recorded individual living for 205 years. Rougheye typically resides at depths of 170 to 700 meters below sea level, mainly in the Pacific Ocean.
11. Red Sea Urchin
Red sea urchins are the largest species of sea urchins, reaching sizes of up to 25 cm. They appeared 450 million years ago and tend to move very little throughout their lifespans, which is why they have many sharp spines for protection. Occasionally, they gather together to forage, but they move quite slowly. Interestingly, the average lifespan of a red sea urchin is 30 years, but some can live over 200 years.
10. Bowhead Whale
Some scientists believe that the bowhead whale may be the oldest living mammal species on the planet. A Pacific bowhead named Bada lived for about 211 years. Most bowhead whales die between the ages of 20 and 60, but up to four individuals have been known to live from 91 to 172 years.
9. Koi Fish
Although the average lifespan of koi fish is around 50 years, a special case has allowed this small fish to make the list of the longest-living creatures on Earth. A koi named Hanako lived for 226 years, from 1751 to 1977. The age of this fish was verified by counting the rings on its scales, similar to how the age of a tree is determined by its growth rings.
8. Vestimentiferan Tube Worm
This mollusk lives in a protective shell and remains fixed in place throughout its life. The vestimentiferan tube worm can reach lengths of up to 3 meters and often lives in large groups, numbering in the thousands. They are usually found in the northern Gulf of Mexico, at depths of over 750 meters. Vestimentiferan tube worms grow very slowly, typically living over 250 years.
7. Greenland Shark
These sharks can live for up to 200 years. Scientists have discovered an individual that was 400 years old, making them the longest-living vertebrates in the world. This species ages slowly, growing about 1 cm per year, and reaches old age at 100 years.
6. Freshwater Mussel
While many species struggle to adapt to changes in their environment—be it climate, geology, or various physical, chemical, and biological factors—the freshwater mussel has a remarkable ability to adapt to entirely different living conditions. This may be why they can live for over 250 years. Freshwater mussels are typically found in the Scandinavian peninsula.
5. Tortoise
Tortoises are known for their long lifespans, with a healthy tortoise typically living up to 150 years, although this varies among different species. A tortoise named Adwaita, kept in a zoo in Kolkata, lived over 250 years, dying from a shell fracture that worsened over time. Had it not been for that unfortunate accident, Adwaita could have lived much longer.
4. Quahog Clam
This species of clam originates from the North Atlantic and lives at depths ranging from 8 to 396 meters. To avoid predation, they can burrow deep into the seabed and remain there for extended periods without needing to search for food or oxygen. The North Atlantic quahog is a mollusk that has an average lifespan of around 400 years, with the oldest known individual living up to 507 years. Research suggests they live this long due to an unusually high level of antioxidant substances in their bodies.
3. Antarctic Sponges
Many people mistakenly believe that sponges are plants; however, they are actually a type of very low-activity animal, moving only about 1 mm each day. Sponges also grow at a very slow rate, resulting in a relatively long lifespan. Common sponge species live between three and twenty years, but the Antarctic sponge can live up to 1,550 years.
2. Black Coral
Corals may resemble colorful underwater rocks and plants, but they are actually made up of the exoskeletons of invertebrate animals known as polyps. These polyps continuously reproduce and replace themselves by creating genetically identical copies, gradually increasing the size of the coral’s exoskeleton over time. Thus, corals are formed from many identical organisms rather than a single entity, meaning their lifespan is a collective effort of the entire group. Specimens of black coral found off the coast of Hawaii have been recorded to live for 4,265 years.
1. Immortal Jellyfish
The scientific name of this jellyfish is Turritopsis nutricula. It possesses a unique ability to reverse its life cycle from adulthood back to a single-celled organism, allowing it to continue developing once again. This is the only known case of a multicellular organism capable of reversing its life cycle after reaching sexual maturity. Theoretically, this process can occur indefinitely, resulting in the immortality of this jellyfish species.
Similar to the Turritopsis jellyfish, Hydra jellyfish also have the potential for immortality. These invertebrates are primarily composed of stem cells, which continuously regenerate through division or cloning. While Hydras do not live forever in natural conditions due to threats such as predators and diseases, they could achieve immortality in the absence of these external threats.
