Long-livers among animals have always been a subject of interest to scientists and ordinary nature lovers. Many of us have wondered how some animal species can live more than a hundred years, when human life is so short. In this article, we will look at five species of animals that live longer than 100 years, and try to unravel their secret.
1. Intestines .
Intestines are marine animals that include jellyfish, hydras, and corals. Some of them can live up to 5,000 years. However, scientists still can’t figure out how they achieve this longevity. One hypothesis is that the coelenterates have a special mechanism of self-purification from toxins, which allows them to remain healthy and long-lived.
2. Greenland whales
Greenland whales are the largest predators on the planet. They can reach a length of up to 18 meters and weigh up to 100 tons. Some of them live more than 200 years. Researchers suggest that the longevity of Greenland whales is due to their metabolic characteristics and genetic mechanisms that allow them to quickly regenerate damaged tissues.
3. Carps
Carps are freshwater fish that can live up to 100 years. They have unique self-healing mechanisms and the ability to regenerate tissues. Carps are also highly resistant to various diseases and infections, allowing them to live to be 100 years old.
4. Turtles
Turtles are well-known long-livers that can live up to 200 years. They are highly resistant to various diseases and infections, as well as capable of tissue regeneration. However, the main secret of turtles’ longevity is their slow metabolism, which allows them to save energy and live longer.
5. Geckos
Geckos are small lizards that can live up to 30 years. Despite their small size, they have unique self-healing mechanisms and the ability to regenerate tissue. Scientists also suggest that geckos can live longer because of their high environmental resistance and ability to adapt to different environments.
So, we looked at five species of animals that live longer than 100 years. Some of them have unique self-healing mechanisms and the ability to regenerate tissues, others are highly resistant to various diseases and infections. However, until now, scientists cannot fully unravel the secret of longevity of these animals.
