15 Astonishing Animal Lifespans That Will Surprise You

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Animals come in all shapes and sizes, and their lifespans are just as diverse. Some creatures live for mere hours, while others live longer than multiple human generations. This gallery takes you through the incredible range of animal lifespans, from the briefest to the most enduring. Get ready to be surprised by how long (or short) some of your favorite animals live!

Mayflies: The 24-Hour Wonders

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Mayflies have one of the shortest lifespans in the animal kingdom. As adults, they live for about 24 hours. During this brief time, they mate and lay eggs. Their aquatic nymph stage can last up to a year, but once they sprout wings, it’s a race against time.

House Mice: Two-Year Squeakers

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These tiny rodents reach sexual maturity at just 6-8 weeks old and typically live between 1-2 years in the wild. The female house mice can have five to ten litters per year and breed quickly. And so, it’s no wonder that their rapid reproduction rate balances their short lifespan.

Goldfish: Not Just a Three-Second Memory

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Contrary to popular belief, goldfish can live much longer than three seconds! In proper conditions, they often survive 10-15 years. Some have even reached 30 years old. Their lifespan depends on factors like tank size, water quality, and diet. Many people don’t know this, but the world’s oldest goldfish lived for 43 years.

Domestic Cats: Nine Lives or More?

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While cats don’t have nine lives, they do live quite long. Domestic cats typically survive 12-18 years. With good care, some cats make it past 20. The oldest recorded cat lived for up to 38 years! One hack to ensuring your cat lives long is maintaining a healthy diet for your cat and paying regular visits to the vet.

Dogs: Man’s Best Friend for a Decade or More

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The lifespan of dogs varies significantly by breed and size. Smaller breeds are known to live longer, with many reaching 12-16 years. Larger breeds typically have shorter lives at 8-12 years, as the oldest recorded dog lived to be 29 years old! Good nutrition and exercise can help extend your pup’s life.

African Elephants: Long-Lived Giants

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African elephants can live for as long as 70 years in the wild. These intelligent animals have complex social structures and strong family bonds. Females often outlive males, with some matriarchs leading their herds for decades.  

Macaws: Colorful Centenarians

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The hyacinth macaw is a popular parrot breed famous for its vibrant color. In the wild, they can live 50-60 years but reach 60-80 when correctly cared for. It has even been reported that some macaws have lived beyond 100 years of age! And it is common for them to outlive their owners due to their long lifespan.

Koi Fish: Swimming Through Centuries

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These colorful carp grow throughout their lives, reaching impressive sizes in their later years. The average Koi fish is expected to live for about 15 years, and in optimal conditions, they can live for over 200 years. According to reports, Hanako, the oldest koi ever known, died in 1977 at the age of 226 years.

Bowhead Whales: Arctic Ancients

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In the 19th century, scientists found some bowhead whales with 19th-century harpoon tips embedded in their blubber, and this goes a long way to show they are among the longest-lived mammals. They can live over 200 years. Besides having a slow metabolism, their genes contribute to their longevity.

Greenland Sharks: The Ocean’s Elders

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Have you ever wondered what the longest-living vertebrate is? Greenland sharks take the prize! These deep-sea dwellers can live for over 500 years. They grow extremely slowly and reach sexual maturity at around 150 years old. Greenland sharks are not only found in Greenland; you can also find them in the Caribbean, and they can survive icy regions. 

Aldabra Giant Tortoises: Shell-ebrating Long Lives

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As one of the world’s largest land tortoises, Aldabra giant tortoises are indigenous to the Seychelles. They regularly live over 100 years, with some reaching 250 years old. However, human poaching has drastically jeopardized their chances of surviving far into the future. The oldest known tortoise, Adwaita, was estimated to be 255 when he died in 2006. 

Geoduck Clams: Buried Treasures of Time

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Geoduck clams are long-lived mollusks found in the Pacific Northwest. These odd-looking creatures spend most of their lives buried in sand, using their long siphons to filter feed. Their sedentary lifestyle and hard shells help them avoid predators. For these reasons, they can live for up to 160 years.

Lake Sturgeon: Living Fossils

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The lake sturgeon is an age-old fish that can live up to 150 years. Surprisingly, these “living fossils” have been around for over 200 million years, significantly making them outlast the dinosaurs. They grow throughout their lives, with some reaching over 7 feet long. As a result of their slow growth and late maturity, they tend to live long.

Tuatara: Relics from the Past

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Native to New Zealand, the Tuatara has one of the slowest reptile growth rates in the world. It takes them about 35 years to grow, and they can live for around 100 years. Tuatara are the last survivors of an order of reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs. At over 100 years old, the oldest male, Tuatara Henry, is still reproductively active. 

Immortal Jellyfish: Cheating Death

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The immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) theoretically has an infinite lifespan. When stressed or injured, it can revert to its juvenile polyp stage and start its life cycle over again. This process of “transdifferentiation” allows it to potentially avoid death indefinitely, which makes it a subject of aging research.

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