List of longest-living organisms

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List of Longest-Living Organisms

The List of Longest-Living Organisms encompasses species from various taxonomic groups, including animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms. This list highlights the remarkable longevity of certain species, some of which can live for centuries or millennia, showcasing the vast diversity of life and the different strategies organisms have evolved to survive over long periods.

Animals

Vertebrates

• Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus): The Greenland shark is currently the longest-living vertebrate known, with an estimated lifespan of up to 400 years. These deep-sea sharks are found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
• Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus): Bowhead whales can live over 200 years, making them the longest-lived mammals. They are found in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.
• Galápagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra): Some individuals of this species are known to have lived for over 150 years, making them one of the longest-living land animals.

Invertebrates

• Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish, has the ability to revert back to its polyp stage after reaching maturity, potentially giving it an indefinite lifespan.
• Arctica islandica, the ocean quahog, is a species of clam known to live for more than 500 years, making it the longest-lived non-colonial animal known.

Plants

• Methuselah: An ancient bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) located in the White Mountains of California, believed to be over 4,800 years old, making it one of the oldest known living individual trees.
• Pando: This is a clonal colony of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) estimated to be thousands of years old. It is considered the heaviest and one of the oldest living organisms.

Fungi

• The Armillaria ostoyae, or honey fungus, in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, is thought to be the largest living organism by area and is estimated to be around 2,400 years old.

Microorganisms

• Certain species of bacteria, such as those in the genus Deinococcus, are known for their extreme longevity, especially under conditions of nutrient deprivation or other stress.

Implications for Science and Medicine

The study of these long-living organisms provides valuable insights into the processes of aging, genetics, and the limits of life span. Research into the biological mechanisms that allow these organisms to live for such extended periods could have implications for human health and longevity.