Oldest Animal on Earth

The oldest known animal ever recorded depends on whether we’re talking about individual animals with a known lifespan or species with extreme longevity.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

By Individual Animal (Documented Age)

• Ming the Quahog (clam)

507 years

A deep-sea ocean quahog clam, discovered off the coast of the UK near Iceland, born ~1499, died 2006.

Ming the Quahog is considered the longest-lived individual animal ever recorded.

• George the Aldabra Tortoise

255 years (claimed)

Giant tortoises often live 150–200+ years. George’s age is disputed but reflects the extreme longevity of tortoises.

• Jonathan the Seychelles Giant Tortoise

190+ years

Born ~1832, still alive as of 2025 on St. Helena. Longest-living known living terrestrial animal.

• Greenland Shark

272+ years estimated

Not an individual in captivity but age estimated via eye lens radiocarbon dating; slow-growing, long-lived fish species.

By Species with Extreme Longevity

Some species can live for centuries or millennia, especially in the ocean:

Ocean Quahog (Arctica islandica)

500+ years

Includes Ming the Clam. Deep-sea bivalve; very slow-growing.

Greenland Shark

272–500 years

Very slow metabolism, matures at ~150 years.

Rougheye Rockfish

200+ years

Deep-sea fish found in the Pacific Ocean.

Bowhead Whale

211+ years

Longest-living mammal; some individuals found with ancient harpoon points in their bodies.

Antarctic Sponge (Anoxycalyx joubini)

1,500–15,000 years

Colonial sponge; extreme deep-sea longevity, mostly theoretical based on growth rate.

Oldest wild bird recorded in Britain

Species: Manx shearwater

Age: Over 50 years

These seabirds return to the same nesting sites in places like Skomer Island year after year.

Mr. Pickles – one of Britain’s oldest residents

Aldabra giant tortoise

Name: Mr. Pickles

Location: ZSL London Zoo

Estimated age: ~130+ years

Why he’s notable

• Considered one of the oldest known animals living in the UK today

• Part of a breeding pair with a younger female tortoise

• His age is estimated based on historical records rather than exact birth data

👉 Like many giant tortoises, he may actually be older than recorded..!

Other contenders in the UK

There are a few other unnamed or less-publicised tortoises in Britain that could rival or exceed this age:

Private collections and historic estates sometimes house tortoises over 150 years old

Zoos occasionally have individuals with uncertain but very high estimated ages

Because records from the 19th century are incomplete, the true “oldest” is likely unverified.

Summary

Ming the Clam (507 years) is the oldest documented individual animal with verified age.

Greenland sharks, ocean quahogs, and some sponges outlive all others in species longevity but are harder to verify exactly for individuals.

Tortoises like Jonathan are the oldest known living terrestrial animals, regularly surpassing 150–190 years.

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