From the fly that lives just 24 hours to the shark that can survive 512 years – nature’s shortest to longest lifespans
After tortoise Jonathan reached the grand old age of 186, we take a look at the lifespans of other animals
YESTERDAY we told of “gay” tortoise Jonathan who has reached the grand old age of 186.
Here, JESSICA LESTER lists nature’s shortest to longest lifespans.
Mayfly
These aquatic insects spend up to two years as larvae under water when they are developing their wings but then live for just one day in their adult, fully-formed stage.
Average lifespan: 24 hours
Fly
They normally survive less than a month but in warmer conditions flies are known to live far longer
Average lifespan: four weeks
Monarch Butterfly
In warm areas such as Central and South America the orange and black beauties can live for nine months but only six weeks elsewhere.
Average lifespan: nine months
Cockroach
The scourge of restaurant kitchens, most roach species live for around one year, but in ideal conditions – free of pest controllers – they may be able to live for up to two years.
Average lifespan: two years
Queen bee
Worker bees only live a matter of weeks but the queen can live up to four or five years.
Average lifespan: three years
Rat
Record-breaking lab rat Rodney was seven years and four months old when he died in May 1990.
Average lifespan: one-two years
Oldest ever: seven years
Guinea pig
Snowball, from Nottingham, was the world’s oldest guinea pig at 14 years and ten months. He died in 1979.
Average lifespan: one-two years
Oldest ever: seven years
Rabbit
Tasmanian wild rabbit Flopsy was caught in 1964 and died more than 18 years and ten months later.
Average lifespan: 8-12 years
Oldest ever: 18 years
Tarantula
The world’s oldest is thought to have been a female caught in Mexico in 1935 who was 28 years old when she died.
Average lifespan: 15-25 years
Oldest ever: 28 years
Queen Ant
A queen ant was kept in captivity by German entomologist Hermann Appel and lived for a total of 28¾ years.
Average lifespan: 20-30 years
Oldest ever: 28 years
Dog
Bluey the Australian cattle dog is the world’s longest-living mutt. He was 29 years and five months when he died in 1939.
Average lifespan: 14 years
Oldest ever: 29 years
Cat
Texan moggy Crème Puff was born in 1967 and lived to 2005, becoming the oldest cat ever recorded, at 38 years and three days.
Average lifespan: 12-15 years
Oldest ever: 38 years
Goldfish - average lifespan: 5-10 years, oldest ever: 40 years
Keith Allies, of Worcestershire, claims his fish Fred and George are the oldest ever recorded, at 40.
Average lifespan: 5-10 years
Oldest ever: 40 years
Orangutan
Gypsy Chan, the world’s oldest orangutan, recently celebrated her 62nd birthday at a zoo in Tokyo.
Average lifespan: 35-45 years
Oldest ever: 62 years
Alligator
Muja the alligator survived World War Two bombs and is still alive at 82 years old in Belgrade Zoo.
Average lifespan: 40-50 years
Oldest ever: 82 years
Flamingo
Greater, also known as Flamingo One, died in Australia in 2014 at 83 years old.
Average lifespan: 40-60 years
Oldest ever: 83 years
Elephant
Lin Wang, an Asian elephant, carried supplies through the jungle of Myanmar during World War Two. She died aged 86 in 2003.
Average lifespan: 50 years
Oldest ever: 86 years
Parrot
Poncho, the world’s oldest parrot, not only appeared in films with Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy but also lived to 87 years old.
Average lifespan: 70-80 years
Oldest ever: 87 years
Killer whale
The world’s oldest orca, Granny, was presumed dead in 2016 after scientists lost track of her in the north Pacific. She was 100.
Average lifespan: 20-30 years
Oldest ever: 100 years
Human
The longest human lifespan was that of Jeanne Calment, from France, who lived 122 years and 164 days. She died in 1997.
Average lifespan: 79 years
Oldest ever: 122 years
Lobster
George the 20lb lobster was caught off Newfoundland in 2008 and was estimated at around 140 years old. He was returned to the sea in 2009.
Average lifespan: 30-50 years
Oldest ever: 140 years
Giant tortoise
Adwaita, who died in India in 2006, is believed to have lived to around 225.
The current living champion is Jonathan, in St Helena, at 186.
Average lifespan: 150 years
Oldest ever: 225 years
Clam
Ming the clam was caught off Iceland in 2006 and was estimated to be 507. He died when scientists were examining him.
Average lifespan: 400 years
Oldest ever: 507 years
Greenland shark
Lab tests put this shark species’ lifespan at 392, plus or minus 120 – so it may live up to 512, the world’s oldest vertebrates.
Average lifespan: 392 years
Oldest ever: 512 years
