What Are the Longest-Living Animals?

Words: reverse - to change something completely so that it is the opposite of what it was before immortal - that lives or lasts forever regenerate - to grow again; to make something grow again external - connected with or located on the outside of something/somebody

First of all, let's check some questions that you need to focus on listening. 1. What ability does the rougheye rockfish have? 2. How old have some corals been found to be? 3. Why is one species of the turritopsis dohrnii called the immortal jellyfish?

The longest-living animals can reverse or sometimes even stop aging. Here are 12 of the longest-living ones. The oldest-living tortoise is 190 years old, and red sea urchins can live up to 200 years old. Bowhead whales may live more than 200 years. The rougheye rockfish has a maximum lifetime of at least 205 years, and their cells may help them fight cancers. The oldest-known freshwater pearl mussel was 280 years old. Greenland sharks can live up to 272 years and may have lived up to 512 years old. Tube worm species can live up to 200 years and others for more than 300 years. One ocean quahog clam found off the coast of Iceland was 507 years old. Some corals have been dated to be 4,265 years old. One species of sponges was found to be about 11,000 years old. Turritopsis dohrnii, called the immortal jellyfish, starts its life as larvae, transforms into polyps, and then produces jellyfish. One species can turn back into polyps if it is damaged and then return to its jellyfish state, so by reversing its life cycle several times, it may never die of old age. Hydras are invertebrates that regenerate by cloning, so they do not decline as they get older, so without external dangers, they could keep regenerating forever.

Read each question and give the correct answer based on the article. 1. What ability does the rougheye rockfish have? 2. How old have some corals been found to be? 3. Why is one species of the turritopsis dohrnii called the immortal jellyfish?

Please answer each question freely or by using the situation given. 1. Do you think we should do research on animals, so we can find ways to live longer? Why or why not? 2. Do you think it would be good if humans could live as long as some of these animals do? Please support your answer. 3. Do you think it ruins our oceans when scientists explore them? Please discuss. 4. Do you think it would be interesting to explore our deep oceans? Please explain. 5. Do you think turtles would make good pets? Why or why not? 6. Do you think it’s just a coincidence that the animals that live the longest are those that people rarely have contact with? Please share your thoughts.