1. Glass sponge
Glass sponges are the longevity stars of the deep sea, with a 2012 study estimating that some have survived for as long as 11,000 years. Its body structure is unique, consisting of a complex network of tiny glass-like bone needles that can grow up to several meters in height, like a mysterious castle in the depths of the sea. It inhabits the deep sea, where the water temperature is low, the pressure is high, and the light is weak. The movement is extremely slow, almost static, like the Guardian of Silence in the depths. Through a complex pore system, microscopic organisms and organic particles in the surrounding seawater are filtered at a rate of a few milliliters per minute for nutrients. The deep-sea environment is relatively stable and has very little disturbance, providing favorable conditions for its long life course. The main food is plankton, bacteria and other tiny particles, which may be filtered thousands of litres of seawater every day to capture these tiny foods that are invisible to the naked eye, and they are the lifeblood of glass sponges.
2. Blackhorn coral
Blackhorn coral is a legend of longevity in the ocean, reaching 4,265 years old when it was discovered off the coast of Hawaii in 2012. Its bones are hard and come in a variety of shapes, like branches or fans, providing a unique habitat for marine life. It usually lives in warm, shallow seas, fixed to the reef of the seabed, like an ancient sculpture of the ocean. Growth is extremely slow, growing only a few millimeters per year. Water quality is extremely demanding, with clear, warm and nutrient-rich water. Catch plankton and organic debris with your tentacles in gentle and graceful movements. Feeding on plankton and organic detritus, due to the relatively limited food source, it is necessary to make efficient use of every food particle, and the tentacles are like delicate filters to accurately capture tiny foods and provide energy for a long life.
3. Arctic clams
The Arctic clam is the messenger of longevity in the North Atlantic, and in 2006 scientists caught one off the coast of Iceland with a true age of 507 years. The outer shell acts like a sturdy armor that protects the soft body inside. It inhabits the sediment of the North Atlantic Ocean and moves slowly, like a sleeping underwater treasure. Resistant to low temperatures, it can survive in cold seawater. Grows slowly, with shell growth of only a few millimeters per year. Lie quietly on the bottom of the sea, filtering plankton and algae from the seawater. Feeding mainly on plankton and algae, it obtains its food by filtering seawater, and has a limited daily intake, but with its tenacious vitality and efficient food utilization ability, it continues to live a long life in the cold North Atlantic.
4. Deep-sea tube worms
Deep-sea tubeworms are mysterious long-lived creatures in the deep sea, and a 2017 study found that a tube worm called Escarpia laminata has an average lifespan of more than 300 years, and some even live for more than 1,000 years. The body is tubular and comes in a variety of colors, adding a mystique to the deep sea. Usually associated with special environments such as seafloor hydrothermal vents or cold seeps, it relies on symbiotic bacteria for chemical synthesis to obtain energy, and barely moves itself, such as deep-sea fixed lighthouses. The body can be several meters long, and it grows very slowly, perhaps decades or even hundreds of years to reach a certain length. Organic matter synthesized by commensal bacteria is their main food, and tubeworms work closely with commensal bacteria to survive in extreme environments.
5. Greenland sharks
Greenland sharks are one of the largest living shark species and are known for their long lifespans. Studies have shown a lifespan of at least 272 years, a maximum of about 392 years, and may even live up to 512 years. The body is large and strong, with rough skin and grayish-brown color, giving it a sense of ancient majesty. Lives in the depths of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans and swims slowly, like a ghost of the deep sea. Adapts to cold environments and can survive in extremely low water temperatures. Growth is extremely slow, with only a few centimeters of body length per year. Cruise in the deep sea in search of seals, fish, and other marine life for food. Due to the relative scarcity of food and the low frequency of predation, it may only hunt once every few months, and with its strong sense of smell and keen perception, it can search for prey in the vast deep sea and provide energy for long life.
6. Bowhead whales
Bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals with their huge size and distinctive bow-shaped head, with genome sequences showing a maximum lifespan of about 268 years. The body is about 20 meters long and weighs hundreds of tons, like a giant of the sea. It lives in the cold seas of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions and often migrates over long distances. Swimmers at a slower pace but have a strong endurance and live in families or groups with close ties. Feeding mainly on plankton, small fish and crustaceans, they need to consume a lot of food every day to maintain their large bodies, but due to the uneven distribution of food in the Arctic waters, they may need to search for food for a long time and use their huge mouths to filter food from seawater, such as marine giant filters.
7. Aleutian scorpion
The Aleutian punk is a long-lived fish in the Pacific Ocean, with the oldest known to live up to 205 years. The body is brightly colored, beautiful and mysterious. It lives in the Pacific Ocean from United States California to Japan, and generally inhabits near submarine reefs. It moves slowly and has a certain ability to adapt to changes in water temperature. The body length can reach several tens of centimeters, and the body is oval, flattened and stout on the sides. They feed on small fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc., and need to hunt a certain amount of food every day to sustain their lives, but due to changes in the marine environment, food sources may be unstable, so they rely on their keen vision and sense of smell to find food on the seabed to provide protection for a long life.
8. Freshwater pearl mussels
Freshwater pearl mussels are the epitome of longevity in freshwater ecosystems, with the oldest known being 280 years old. The outer shell is smooth and hard, and the inside is pregnant with precious pearls. It lives mainly in the rivers and streams of Europe and North America, and usually buries itself in sediment. Food is obtained through a filtered stream of water, which grows slowly. The shell can be up to several tens of centimeters long, the body is oval, and the two shells are tightly closed, protecting the soft body inside. They feed on plankton, algae, and organic detritus, and filter large amounts of water every day for food, but due to changes in the river environment, food sources may be affected, and they grow silently in rivers, contributing to the stability of freshwater ecosystems.
9. Lighthouse jellyfish
Lighthouse jellyfish, also known as immortal jellyfish, can theoretically live forever. The body is small and delicate, usually only a few millimeters in size, and transparent like a water elf. Living in the ocean, it can recover from the mature stage to the larval stage, and carry out the life cycle. It has strong adaptability to the environment and can survive under different water temperature, salinity and water quality conditions. Swim freely in the ocean in search of plankton and small crustaceans for food. Due to its small size, the daily food intake is very small, and with its unique life cycle mechanism, it continues mysterious life in the ocean.
10. Hydroids
Hydroids are organisms that live in freshwater between jellyfish and corals, and although there is no exact data on their lifespan, they have the potential to live forever in the absence of external threats such as natural predators and diseases. The body is tubular in shape, transparent and soft, and is generally only a few millimeters long. Usually attaches to aquatic plants or other objects, catching food through tentacles. It has strong adaptability to the environment and can survive under different water temperature and water quality conditions. Live quietly in freshwater and add a unique touch to the freshwater ecosystem. Feed on plankton, small aquatic insects, etc., need to consume a certain amount of food every day to maintain life, due to the small size, food demand is relatively small, with super regenerative ability and adaptability, in the fresh water to continue the mysterious life.