In the animal world, there are true champions of long life. From endearing pets to near-immortal sea creatures, these animals have defied time. Here are some of the most amazing documented cases.
🐶 Longest-lived dog: 31 years.
Name: Bobi (Portugal)
Age: 31 years and 165 days.
🐱 Longest-lived cat: 38 years.
Name: Creme Puff (USA)
Age: 38 years and 3 days.
🐢 Longest-lived land tortoise: 190 years (and counting).
Name: Jonathan (Seychelles/Saint Helena)
Age: Approx. 190 years old (born 1832), still alive.
🐘 Longest-lived elephant: 86 years.
Name: Lin Wang (Taiwan)
Age: 86 years old (1917-2003)
🐦 Longest-lived parrot: 82 years.
Name: Cookie (Cockatoo)
Age: 82 years old (1933-2016)
🐳 Greenland whale: more than 200 years old.
The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is one of the longest-living mammals on the planet. It is estimated that they can live more than 200 years.
🦑 O ceanic clam: 507 years.
Name: Ming (Iceland)
Age: 507 years old (born in 1499)
This clam (species Arctica islandica) was found off the coast of Iceland. Its age was calculated by counting the layers of its shell.
🐟 Longest-lived Koi fish: 226 years.
Name: Hanako (Japan)
Age: 226 years old (born in 1751, died in 1977)
Koi fish usually live between 20 and 50 years, but Hanako was an amazing exception.
🐀 Longest-lived mouse: 9 years and 210 days.
Name: Pat (United Kingdom)
Age: 9 years and 210 days
Pat was a laboratory mouse bred as a pet. Compared to the typical life expectancy of 2 to 3 years, his case was extraordinary.
🐊 Crocodile: 140 years.
Name: Mr. Freshie (Australia)
Estimated age: 140 years (lived in the Australian Zoo until his death).
Although there is no official record, some saltwater crocodiles have exceeded 100 years in captivity.
🐢 Galapagos tortoise: 175 years old.
Name: Harriet (Australia)
Age: 175 years old (1830-2006)
It is believed that she was collected by Charles Darwin in the Galapagos Islands. She lived her last years in the Australian Zoo.
🐎 Longest-lived horse: 62 years.
Name: Old Billy (United Kingdom)
Age: 62 years (1760-1822)
He was a working horse that lived more than twice as long as usual. His stuffed head is kept in a museum in England.
🐢 Oldest sea turtle on record: over 100 years old.
🧬 Why do they live so long?
Animal longevity depends on multiple factors: genetics, environment, food, absence of predators and, in the case of pets, human care. Some animals such as turtles and whales have evolved to age very slowly.
