Throughout their lives, creatures follow a natural life cycle from birth to death. However, some animals are known for their remarkably long lifespans. While humans typically live around eighty years, some creatures significantly exceed this lifespan. In captivity, many animals enjoy longer lives due to the absence of predators and a consistent food supply, although some species thrive equally well in the wild. Have you ever wondered which animals have lived the longest for their respective species? Here is a list of the 25 oldest recorded animals in history.
25. Tuatara Lizards
Native only to New Zealand, Tuatara lizards grow at a very slow rate. Though most live up to 60 years, some have been documented to reach an age of 200 years.
24. Cat
Scooter, a Siamese cat born in 1986, was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the World’s Oldest Cat, reaching 31 years of age. This surpasses the previous record holder, who lived to be 26 years old.
23. Dog
Bluey, an Australian Cattle dog, holds the title of the world’s oldest dog, having lived to 29 years. Typically, dogs have a lifespan of eight to fifteen years.
22. Human
Currently, the oldest living human is Emma Morano from Italy, who has reached the age of 117. She is believed to be the last living person from the 19th century.
21. Horse
Shayne, a 51-year-old horse from Essex, is considered potentially the oldest horse in the world. Despite his arthritis, he remains in good health, likely inheriting his longevity from a previous record holder.
20. Lobster
Larry the Lobster, caught in 2016 and taken to a Maine aquarium, is believed to be the oldest lobster ever caught at 110 years old. There were considerations about whether to keep him in the aquarium or release him back to the sea, as a lobster of such age deserves preservation.
19. Bowhead Whale
A bowhead whale caught near Alaska was found with a harpoon point in its neck from the 1880s, suggesting that it had lived through the Civil War era. While this whale was potentially over 130 years old, bowhead whales are thought to live as long as 200 years.
18. Tiger
Flavio, the oldest known tiger, was a former circus performer who retired to a Florida zoo, living to the age of 25.
17. Koi
A koi fish named Hanako was once the oldest known koi, living up to 226 years in Japan. This is remarkable, given that most koi fish typically have a lifespan of only fifty years.
16. Greenland Shark
Greenland sharks are believed to be among the oldest vertebrate species. Scientists estimate one to be over 400 years old, but the exact dating is uncertain, leading some to speculate it could be even older.
15. Goldfish
The Guinness World Records recognized a goldfish that lived to be 43 years old as the oldest known goldfish.
14. Elephant
An elephant in the Taipei Zoo lived to 86 years, having been captured during World War II. Asian elephants typically live around 60 years.
13. Lion
Arjun, a lion bred in captivity, lived to 26 years, surpassing the typical lifespan of lions both in captivity and the wild.
12. Giant Tortoise
Jonathan, a giant tortoise residing in the Seychelles, is 182 years old. While rare, some tortoises are believed to have the potential to live up to 250 years.
11. Bear
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources tracked the oldest known wild bear, who lived for 39 years before passing away from natural causes.
10. Orangutan
Puan, residing in the Perth Zoo in Australia, is the oldest known orangutan at the age of 60.
9. American Alligator
Muja, the oldest known alligator in captivity, survived the bombings in Belgrade during World War II and is believed to be nearly eighty years old.
8. Greater Flamingo
The Adelaide Zoo was home to the world’s oldest greater flamingo, which reached 83 years of age.
7. Ming the Clam
Discovered by Bangor University, Ming the Clam was born in 1499 and was carbon dated to be 507 years old.
6. Black Rhino
Elly, a black rhino at the San Francisco Zoo, is believed to be 46 years old.
5. Bat
A bat in Siberia reached the age of 41, living nearly ten times longer than expected.
4. Killer Whale
“Granny,” also known as J2, provided valuable insight into the care of young by elder whales, estimated to be 100 years old.
3. Jellyfish
The Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish species can reverse its aging process, potentially living indefinitely through asexual reproduction.
2. Frog
The oldest frog, found in New Zealand, lived to 37 years, outliving the typical lifespan of thirty years.
1. Chimpanzee
Little Mama, a chimpanzee at Lion Country Safari Theme Park in Florida, is believed to be the oldest in captivity at 74 years, far surpassing the usual lifespan of chimpanzees in the wild.
