When it comes to the longest living creatures on the planet, most are aquatic and will be found under the sea where temperatures are coolest and growth is slow. Microorganisms and sponges are known to live for thousands of years underwater. In particular, the glass sponges found in the Southern Ocean and the East China Sea are believed to be over 15,000 years old!
There are also plenty of land animals among the longest living on Earth. However, many creatures living in the wild rarely reach a potentially long lifespan due to diseases, natural predators, lack of food or shelter, habitat destruction and poaching. For this reason, several species have been listed as endangered.
Here are 30 animals that have the longest lifespans, ranked from shortest to longest.
