The Greenland Shark That Can Live Up To 500 Years And Other Long Living Animals

The United Nations (UN) has estimated the average lifespan of humans to be 72 years but few know that the Greenland Shark can live up to 500 years.

Some animal species are expected to live for a century, and many can live much longer depending on their environment.

Bowhead whales, on the other hand, can live for more than 200 years.

Domestic cats typically live for up to 16 years, but in 2005, a domestic cat named Creme Puff died at the age of 38, making her the oldest pet cat ever recorded.

In the wild, animals face threats which can reduce their life spans, such as predators, hunting and habitat loss. Despite this, however, some animals can live for a surprisingly long time.

1. Macaw

Macaws are a group of 17 species within the parrot Psittacidae family and are easily recognisable with their bright feathers, long tails and large beaks. Originating from South America, Macaws thrive in rainforests and feed on nuts, seeds and fruits. The life expectancy of a Macaw depends on the species, but they can live for 50 years or more. In general, the larger the Macaw, the longer the life expectancy.

2. African elephant

The African elephant is the largest living land animal, with a shoulder height of up to 11 feet and weighing an incredible six tonnes. Currently, an elephant living in the wild can live up to 70 years old, but they are vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss, leaving them at risk of being endangered.

3. Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Galapagos Tortoises are the world’s largest tortoises, with some specimens exceeding five feet in length and reaching 550 pounds. Giant tortoises are the longest-lived of all vertebrates, averaging over 100 years – but they can live for a lot longer. A giant tortoise called Tommy, who resides in Zimbabwe, is believed to be between 200 and 300 years old. This would make him the world’s oldest living land animal, but there are no records to prove his age so the Guinness Book of World Records awards that distinction to an 188-year-old tortoise in the Seychelles Islands named Jonathan.

4. Japanese Koi Fish

Fish aren’t known for their long lifespans, but Japanese Koi Fish can live up to 40 years or longer if they are kept in the right conditions. Koi fish are descended from the common carp and modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan where wild, colorful carp were caught and bred by rice farmers.

5. Bowhead whale

Bowhead whales, found in the Arctic, are believed to be among the longest-lived animals on earth. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the analysis of eye tissue and stone harpoon tips found in their blubber, bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years.

6. Greenland shark

The Greenland shark has the longest known life span of all vertebrates, estimated to be between 300 and 500 years. Found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, the species can reach an astonishing 21 feet in length and mostly eats fish, but has been spotted hunting seals.

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