Like humans, all animals need food to function and grow. However, some species can go for extended periods without eating, even up to 30 years, while still remaining healthy. Let’s explore which animals can do this.
1. Royal Python: 6 months
The Royal Python, also known as the Ball Python (scientific name: Python regius), is a species of snake found in Africa. The name “Royal Python” comes from the fact that Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt often wore this type of snake on her wrist. Royal Pythons are quite picky eaters and can go without food for many months, especially during the winter and mating seasons.
Royal Pythons have a very slow metabolism, allowing them to store enough energy to go 6 months without food. (Photo: NatGeo)
Royal Pythons have a very slow metabolism, enabling them to store enough energy to move around for approximately 6 months without eating. This is because they are cold-blooded animals, which means they do not need to eat frequently and do not require energy to maintain body temperature like warm-blooded animals. Additionally, they also take several days to digest their food.
2. Scorpion: 1 year
Scorpions are invertebrates with eight legs belonging to the class Arachnida (the spider-like animals). Scorpions are among the creatures that can live comfortably in the harshest environments on Earth. They can survive for up to 1 year without food.
After millions of years of evolution, scorpions can live without eating for up to a year. (Photo: NatGeo)
According to scientists, the evolutionary process over millions of years has allowed scorpions to slow down their metabolism. They can consume food that weighs one-third of their body weight in a single meal. Therefore, scorpions can survive without food for extended periods.
3. Crocodile: 3 years
Crocodiles belong to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified as the subfamily Crocodylinae). Known as the swamp predators, they have a highly flexible and intelligent hunting method. Despite their terrifying abilities, crocodiles are one of the species that can survive for a long time without food.
If they have a hearty meal, crocodiles can go without eating for 3 years while remaining healthy. (Photo: NatGeo)
In fact, if they have a full meal, crocodiles can survive for 3 years without food without their health being affected. Scientists explain this phenomenon by stating that crocodiles enter a state known as estivation, similar to hibernation but focused on conserving energy to survive during food shortages.
4. Olm: 10 years
The Olm (scientific name: Proteus anguinus) is a species of vertebrate that lives exclusively in caves and is found in Europe. They usually inhabit underwater caves in countries in the Balkans and Italy. Olms can live for decades without eating at all.
Olms can survive for up to a decade without consuming food. (Photo: NatGeo)
A research team at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary studied the lifestyle and behavior of this species. They found that Olms’ ability to go without food for long periods is due to their very low metabolic rate. Their diet mainly consists of snails and small invertebrates. However, since these food sources are scarce in caves, Olms have adapted by absorbing nutrients from their own tissues to provide energy.
5. Tardigrade: 30 years
Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, are tiny, water-dwelling creatures belonging to the phylum Tardigrada. They were first described by Pastor Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1773. The name Tardigrada was given three years later by the Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani.
The miraculous ability of tardigrades allows them to survive without food for decades. (Photo: NatGeo)
Only 1 millimeter long, the tiny body of tardigrades conceals many superpowers that enable them to withstand extreme conditions, allowing them to live without food for up to 30 years. Scientists believe that when tardigrades enter a state of metabolic suspension, they reduce their metabolic processes to just 0.01% of normal levels. This extraordinary ability allows them to survive for decades without food.
*This article is compiled from Grunge, AZAnimals, NatGeo.
