10 Longest Living Animals on Earth & Their Amazing Lifespans

The Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan is 193 years old as of 2026, making him the oldest-known living land animal on Earth.

Seychelles Giant Tortoise Reaches 193 Years on Saint Helena

Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise lives on Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean and turned a supposed 190 years old in 2022, when local residents presented him with a cake made from his favourite foods. The Seychelles giant tortoise species (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) once inhabited the Seychelles islands before European settlers arrived and introduced non-native species, causing the tortoise population to plummet.

Restoration efforts have since helped their numbers grow once again. Another individual, Adwaita—an Aldabra giant tortoise that died in 2006—is believed to have lived to be 255 years old, though this information remains unconfirmed.

Red Sea Urchin and Bowhead Whale Longevity Exceeds Two Centuries

The red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) found in the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California regularly surpasses 200 years of age. Body diameters over 19cm found in British Columbia, Canada, indicate an estimated age of around 200 years. Their longevity is connected to indeterminate growth, life-long reproduction, and no increase in mortality rate with age.

Similarly, the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) endemic to Arctic and subarctic waters can live for over 200 years, making them the longest-living mammals. A specimen caught off the Alaskan coast in 2007 was discovered with the head of an explosive bomb lance manufactured between 1879 and 1885 wedged in its body, placing the whale’s age between 115 and 130 years at death. Scientists attribute this lifespan to harsh Arctic conditions and effective DNA repair processes.

Rougheye Rockfish and Greenland Shark Adaptations

The rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus) can live for over 200 years at depths between 150 and 450 meters. A 2021 study published in the journal Science found that Pacific Ocean rockfishes of the genus Sebastes possess DNA repair pathways that may help prevent cancers, linking their longevity to low temperatures, high pressures, and low oxygen levels.

Meanwhile, Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are the longest-living vertebrates in the world, with the oldest recorded individuals reaching about 400 years and potentially approaching 500 years. Female Greenland sharks reach sexual maturity around 150 years of age, and their metabolism does not diminish as they grow older.

Ocean Quahog Clam Reaches Half a Millennium

The ocean quahog clam (Arctica islandica) native to the North Atlantic Ocean exhibits extreme longevity stemming from low aging acceleration, which is further slowed in cold areas. A specimen named Ming, also known as Hafrun, was dredged off the coast of Iceland in 2006. Scientists calculated its age by counting annual growth lines in the shell, determining it was 507 years old—the oldest individual animal ever discovered whose age could be precisely determined.

Ancient Corals and Glass Sponges Endure for Millennia

Black coral colonies (Antipatharians) have a natural estimated lifespan of 70 years, but specimens over 4,000 years old were found in 2009 at depths of nearly 300 to 3,000 meters. Glass sponges (Hexactinellida) surpass even this, with scientists estimating they can live for more than 10,000 years and potentially up to 15,000 years, making them the oldest animals on Earth while still aging normally at a very slow rate.

Biologically Immortal Jellyfish and Hydra

The immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) can revert to the polyp stage and form a new colony when exposed to threats, sickness, or age, repeating the process indefinitely in perfect conditions. Similarly, hydras (Hydridae) possess stem cells with a capacity for indefinite self-renewal, rendering them biologically immortal.