14 Longest Life Span Animals in the World, Ranked by Longevity

Our world is teeming with extraordinary animals that exhibit incredible variations in lifespan. It can be easy to assume that bigger creatures, such as elephants and whales, live longer. While there’s some truth to this, it’s not always the rule. There are also dozens of species, both big and small, that surpass humans in their longevity, with some even breaking into the century mark. 

14. Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

Sulfur Crested Cockatoos are capable of living up to 120 years. A remarkable example was Cocky Bennett, an Australian cockatoo who stole hearts from 1796 to 1916. Cocky Bennett became a local celebrity in his hometown of Sydney and would throw jokes or insults toward the pub’s patrons.

13. Sturgeon

Sturgeons belong to one of the oldest families of fishes, and they have impressive life spans. Depending on the species, these bottom-feeders can live up to 120 years, with the oldest discovered specimen being 125. Sturgeons also reach maturity slowly, often not reproducing until they are between 15 to 20 years old. 

12. Lobster

Some larger lobster species can reach over 140 years of age. They achieve such long lives due to their unique ability to endlessly molt, allowing them to continuously repair their cells. Technically, lobsters don’t die from old age but exhaustion, as each molt requires plenty of energy, and when they reach a certain age, they simply do not have any more to molt, leading to death.

11. Orange Roughy (Deep Sea Perch)

The Orange Roughy, often referred to as the Deep Sea Perch, can have a lifespan of up to 150 years. Thriving in the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean, these creatures’ slow growth rate largely contributes to their impressive life span.

10. Greek Tortoise

One notable Greek Tortoise individual was Timothy, who lived to reach a remarkable age of 165! He passed away in the UK in 2004. As time went by, these tortoises gradually made their home in various environments across the world, including Southern Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. 

9. Galapagos Tortoise

The Galapagos Tortoise is arguably the most famous turtle species on the planet. These remarkable creatures possess lifespans that can exceed 170 years. One notable example was Harriet, a Galapagos tortoise who lived to be 175 years old. They can also weigh up to 919 pounds which makes them the largest living tortoise species.

8. Radiated Tortoise

The Radiated Tortoise, native to Madagascar, can live beyond 180 years in favorable conditions. Their resilient nature aids survival, combined with their slow metabolism. Sadly, due to illegal pet trade and habitat loss, their numbers are declining in the wild.

7. Rougheye Rockfish

The Rougheye Rockfish lives in the North Pacific and they’re one of the longest living fish species, sometimes reaching 200 years of age. On top of that, these fish often swim at depths of up to 3,500 feet under the ocean and can weigh up to 14 pounds, 12 oz.

6. Bowhead Whales

These Arctic water inhabitants aren’t quite large and very long-lived. In fact, it’s not uncommon for Bowhead Whales to sail past their 200th birthday. Bowhead Whales also have giant skulls, which make up almost a third of their total body length (over 16.5 feet).

5. Aldabra Giant Tortoise

These remarkable creatures can live beyond 250 years. One such tortoise was Adwaita who passed away at an estimated age of 255 in March 2006. For reference, Adwaita was born almost a hundred years before the start of the US Civil War in 1861.

4. Greenland Shark

These cold-water dwellers can live upwards of 270 years, with the oldest recorded individual reaching between 272 and 512 years of age. Their precise life span hasn’t yet been determined as sighting are incredibly rare. Nonetheless, their long lives make the Greenland Shark one of the most longest-living vertebrates on Earth.

3. Ocean Quahog

A master of longevity, the Ocean Quahog clam can live for more than five centuries. Ming, the oldest recorded specimen, lived to be over 507 years. To put this into perspective, some Ocean Quahogs are old enough to remember Shakespeare (if they knew who he was). It filters water, helping to improve water quality and maintain a healthy ecosystem as well.

2. Tubeworms

Tubeworms spend time around and near hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, and can live astonishingly long lives. While most fall into the 100-200 year category, certain species can live up to 1,000 years. Tubeworms have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that supply them with necessary nutrients for survival.

1. Sponges and Coral

Certain sponges, like Monorhaphis chuni (glass sponges), can live up to an incredible 10,000 years, potentially even longer though we don’t know for sure. In a similar vein, black corals found near Hawaii boast an impressive life span of 4,265 years. For reference, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built 4,624 years ago!

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