5 amazing animals that live more than 100 years

Some animals live much longer than we usually expect. While most creatures have short lifespans, a few species can live for hundreds or even thousands of years. These animals survive in different parts of the world, like the deep oceans or cold seas, and they age very slowly. Scientists are interested in them because they help us learn about how living things can live longer. Let’s take a look at five such animals that naturally live over 100 years.

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Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)

Deep in the ocean, glass sponges can live for thousands of years. Their bodies are made of silica, like glass. They grow very slowly in cold, calm waters, which is why they can live so long– some for over 10,000 years. These sponges help clean the deep sea by filtering water and catching tiny particles. But they are fragile, and things like deep-sea fishing can easily harm them.

Black coral lives in deep, dark parts of the ocean where sunlight barely reaches. It looks like small underwater trees, and they grow very slowly– sometimes taking hundreds or even thousands of years to mature. Many small sea creatures use it as shelter, making it important for a healthy ocean ecosystem. Unfortunately, its beauty makes it popular for jewellery, leading to overharvesting. Since it grows so slowly, protecting black coral is crucial for marine life.

Found in warm tropical seas, giant barrel sponges can live for more than a thousand years. They grow slowly and filter large amounts of seawater, supporting life on coral reefs. Their massive size and age have earned them the nickname “redwoods of the reef.”

Greenland sharks live in the icy waters of the Arctic and can live for up to 500 years. They grow so slowly that they don’t even reach adulthood until they’re about 100 years old. Their slow metabolism helps them survive for centuries, something rare among sharks. Because of their long lifespan, they carry a kind of “memory” of ocean history in their bodies.

Living in the cold, deep waters of the North Pacific, the rougheye rockfish can live for up to 200 years. Like many long-lived sea creatures, they grow slowly, which helps them survive in their harsh environment. They eat shrimp, crabs, and small fish, playing an important role in the deep-sea food chain.