What is the oldest living animal on Earth? The answer will shock you!

Nature doesn’t just create beauty, it crafts survival miracles. While most animals have short lives, a rare few have mastered the art of staying alive for centuries, even millennia. These aren’t just long-lived creatures; they’re nature’s ultimate time travelers. From the frozen depths of the oceans to the darkest corners underground, they’ve developed bizarre, brilliant strategies to cheat death. Get ready to meet 12 animals whose lifespans will absolutely blow your mind.

Record age: up to 15,000 years

This unassuming sea sponge thrives in the freezing waters of Antarctica, where temperatures hover around 28.6 °F—so cold that biological processes hit the brakes. In such icy conditions, metabolism slows to a crawl, allowing these sponges to live for thousands of years.

Some have reached impressive sizes of over 3 feet tall and have been around since mammoths were still thundering across the tundra. They don’t move, they don’t stress, and they barely change, just quietly existing while centuries pass them by. Their secret to extreme longevity? Glacial patience, deep-sea stillness, and a lifestyle that redefines "low-maintenance".

Age: technically… infinite

This tiny jellyfish, no bigger than a fingernail—less than 0.2 inches—is like the ocean’s very own Benjamin Button. What makes it truly extraordinary is its ability to rewind its life story, flipping back to a youthful, juvenile stage whenever it wants. While it’s not completely invincible (predators and other threats are still very real), if left undisturbed, it can keep hitting the reset button on aging indefinitely, making it one of the most fascinating "time-benders" in nature.

Record age: 507 years

In 2006, a special clam was discovered buried deep in the seabeds of the North Atlantic. Scientists were able to determine that it had been there since at least 1499—that’s centuries before the United States was even a thought! This ancient marvel, nicknamed "Ming", was able to perfect a slow-and-steady approach to life. Growing at a snail’s pace and barely budging, Ming’s sedentary lifestyle turned out to be a brilliant strategy for beating the clock. Who knew doing almost nothing could be the ultimate secret to longevity?

Record age: estimated 392 years

These sharks aren’t your average ocean cruisers—they can stretch over 20 feet long and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. But what’s really mindblowing is how slowly they move, like they’re in a permanent state of deep relaxation. Living in the icy Arctic waters, these giants don’t hit adulthood until they’re about 150 years old, and some can glide through the depths for nearly 400 years. Imagine that! These ancient swimmers were already around before America declared independence... and they are still out there, silently roaming the seas!

Record age: over 211 years

This whale is a true ocean giant, stretching up to 60 feet long and weighing a staggering 200,000 pounds. But what makes it stand out isn’t just its size but its age. Some of these majestic creatures carry harpoons from the 1800s still lodged in their skin, like walking history books. Just picture living so long that you’re literally carrying outdated technology embedded in your body—talk about being a time traveler of the seas!

Record age: 200 years

Spanning the chilly Pacific coastline from California all the way up to Alaska, this spiky little ball—about 7 inches across—is full of surprises. It munches on algae and calls the deep, dark ocean its home, thriving at depths of up to 300 feet. Don’t let its size fool you: this prickly creature is a true elder of the cold seas, quietly outliving many ocean neighbors while keeping a low profile. A tough, slow-living veteran wrapped in spikes!

Record age: 226 years

Meet Hanako, a legendary Japanese koi who swam through life for an astonishing 226 years. Scientists discovered how old she was by studying the rings on her scales, much like counting the growth rings of a tree. These colorful, ornamental fish aren’t just symbols of good fortune; they’re also secret long-lifers with the potential to celebrate over two centuries of birthdays, as long as they get the right care and a peaceful pond to call home.

Record age: 190 years

Jonathan is a male tortoise living on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. He was born back in 1832, and he’s still happily chomping lettuce and soaking up the sun today. Weighing in at more than 400 pounds and measuring around 3 feet long, Jonathan holds the title of the oldest known living land animal on the planet. If he could share tales, they’d span nearly two centuries of history. Imagine that!

Record age: 152 years

This ancient-looking fish, with its whisker-like barbels, looking like a tiny underwater submarine, prowls the lakes of North America. It can reach an impressive length of up to 7 feet and weigh around 200 pounds. These slow-living creatures don’t rush into adulthood—they start breeding only around age 20—and then take their time cruising through life at a leisurely pace. Believe it or not, one legendary catch in Wisconsin was estimated to be over 150 years old!

Record age: over 90 years

This chunky, night-loving parrot from New Zealand is a true oddball—it can’t fly, snores like a grumpy grandpa, and smells like fresh flowers. Despite its quirks, this bird boasts an impressively long lifespan. Sadly, it teeters on the edge of extinction. The oldest known kakapo, affectionately named Richard Henry, lived 90 years, earning him the title of the charmingly eccentric elder statesman of the avian world.

Record age: 37 years

This tiny, kooky rodent—barely 3 inches long and just over an ounce in weight—could’ve been cast straight from a sci-fi apocalypse flick. Dwelling in vast underground colonies across Africa, it’s practically invincible to cancer, pain, and the usual effects of aging. Scientists are fascinated by this little marvel, even if it’s not winning beauty contests anytime soon. Its superpowers make it a star in longevity research!

Record age: estimated 100+ years

Lobsters have a totally different rulebook than us when it comes to aging. They don’t really grow old; they just keep getting bigger and bigger. Some giant lobsters weigh over 40 pounds and stretch beyond 3 feet long. Their biggest threats? Not old age, but predators or the risky process of shedding their shells. In theory, they could live forever if left alone—but let’s be honest, not many get to enjoy a peaceful, lobster-sized retirement!

CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Konichiwa! Discover Ten English Words With Surprising Japanese Origins!

Image: David Edelstein

Japan, the "Land of the Rising Sun", is definitively a faraway land. While the past few decades have seen a surge in the integration between our two cultures, few languages seem to be as distant and at odds with English as Japanese is: After all, they have completely different writing systems, pronunciations, and sentence structures.

And yet, you might be surprised to learn how many words we use daily, come directly from the Japanese language. We have compiled ten of our favorite words ranging from logical loan words to surprising ones. Enjoy!

Image: Hunters Race

We’ll start with one of the most surprising entries on this list. What image comes to mind when you hear the word "tycoon"? Perhaps a 20th-century top-hat-wearing business magnate like Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, or even the Monopoly Guy (whose name is "Rich Uncle Pennybags", by the way). However, if the Japanese roots of tycoon are to be believed, this word refers to a different kind of leader.

In the 19th century, the Japanese shogun, the country’s leader at the time, opened business relations with the West. During his first government meeting, the American consul to Japan, mistakenly addressed the shogun by the title of taikun, a disused term that loosely translates to "great prince." In time, the word morphed into the "tycoon" spelling we now use, and by the 1920s it was commonly used to describe someone with great wealth and power.

Image: Clay Banks

The preferred resting place for every college student, futons are a comfortable and simple piece of furniture beloved by millions of Americans. Most futons are filled with cotton and are either used as a mattress directly on the floor or framed and used as a sofa or bed. While they might seem like an inexpensive way to decorate an apartment, in Japan futons are a centuries-old tradition that is still maintained by millions of Japanese households.

A traditional Japanese futon consists of a foldable mattress and a duvet, which are both flexible enough to be able to be stored away in a closet during the day. In the 80s, American futons started becoming increasingly popular, although they presented a key difference: most presented a wooden frame, that allowed the mattress to also be folded into a sofa.

Image: rishi

If you ever visited New York City, you have probably seen more than a few rickshaws (or as they are known in America, pedicabs) swiftly dodging traffic and diligently carrying tourists throughout the many streets of the Big Apple. And while most U.S. states have at least one city in which pedicabs are prominent, this environmentally conscious mode of transportation first gained traction in New York City during the '60s.

Interestingly, the word "rickshaw" comes from the Japanese word jinrikisha, which literally translates to "human-powered vehicle". The origins of the rickshaw are still debated, but most sources indicate that it was invented in Japan during the 19th century.

Image: Pablo Zuchero

This one is slightly controversial since the origins of this popular expression are still unknown. However, one of the most accepted theories indicates that at least half of this expression comes from Japan, or at least from American sailors trying to communicate in Japanese.

The "hunky" part of this expression comes from the Dutch word hunk, which means "home". By the 19th century, the adjective hunky had migrated into English, meaning "all right" or "safe". While the reason why this word was partnered with "dory" to form this expression remains a mystery, some believe that it comes from the Japanese word dori, which translates to road. This theory states that American sailors looking for places on which to have a drink combined hunky (which could also be interpreted as "satisfactory") and dori.

Image: Markus Winkler

The universal language of the internet, emojis have been extremely popular since the emergence of the online era. These symbols, first known as "emoticons" in the 80s, were comprised of cleverly placed keyboard characters. By the 1990s and early 2000s, the first specially crafted images for online messengers and cellphones were introduced, and their name quickly morphed into the now ubiquitous "emoji".

What’s surprising is how such a silly-sounding word as "emoji" can so perfectly describe what these little smiling pictures mean. It comes from the amalgamation of the Japanese word moji, meaning "letter" or "character", and the prefix e, which means "drawing" or "picture". Therefore, an emoji would literally mean a letter formed by a drawing, which perfectly encapsulates what an emoji actually is.

Image: Brooke Lark

Just like with "tycoon", the word "honcho" is sometimes used to describe a prominent boss or leader. While it might have fallen into disuse now, this word was insanely popular in the United States for a while. You might be surprised to know that this word not only comes from Japanese but that it is rather a fully-formed word that found its way from Japan into the American vocabulary.

By the time World War II was coming to an end, American war prisoners came back home after being held captive by the Japanese forces. They brought back the word honcho with them since it is commonly used in the military to refer to squad leaders. The 1950s are probably the time period in which the words "honcho" and "head honcho" were most popular. Famously, General Eisenhower was called the "chief honcho" by a prominent newspaper in 1952.

Image: Caroline Attwood

In American English, "Skosh" is a funny-sounding word used to describe a tiny amount. You can add a skosh more of salt to your food, you might feel a skosh tired after a long walk and you might ask someone to move a skosh to give you some more space on the couch. This word is sometimes spelled "skoosh", although this is far more popular in the United Kingdom.

Just like with "hunky-dory", skosh was brought back to the States by American soldiers after WWII. It comes from the Japanese word sukoshi, which translates to "a tiny or small amount". The earliest account of this word being used in English comes from 1952.

Image: Nikola Đuza

Karaoke might be one of Japan’s most iconic contributions to the world. Something is fascinating about how this form of entertainment combines the perfect dose of fun and personal embarrassment. It gives us both a safe space to make fun of ourselves, and a wonderful stage on which to perform our favorite songs.

While karaoke is definitively a loan word, it has found its way into every single English dictionary. It is definitively untranslatable: Karaoke is derived from the Japanese words kara (empty) and ōkesutora (orchestra). Curiously, this Japanese staple is so beloved by American culture that the United States holds the world record for the most people singing karaoke when over 160,000 people sang Garth Brooks’ "Friends in Low Places" in 2009.

Image: Sailko

Just like with karaoke, tsunami is a Japanese word that can’t really be translated. Well, it technically can be translated to "harbor wave" but let’s be honest: Tsunami has a way better ring to it. In English, this word is mostly used in a metaphorical sense, usually to describe a big and sudden influx. For instance, a restaurant could experience a tsunami of bad reviews, or someone facing a big decision could be met with a tsunami of advice.

While tsunamis are definitively a disheartening natural disaster, they have been featured in many pieces of Japanese art. Most famously, 19th-century Japanese artist Hokusai created an iconic woodprint called "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" depicting a tsunami, which is now synonymous with traditional Japanese culture.

Image: Vinicius Benedit

We’ll end this article with what’s probably the most beloved Japanese icon in modern times. Sushi has become an absolute staple in world cuisine, up to the point that you would have an insanely hard time finding a major city anywhere that doesn’t have at least a few sushi restaurants. The United States quickly embraced sushi since its rise in popularity in the 1960s, and it even introduced its own signature pieces like the California or Philadelphia rolls.

For such a simple word, sushi has a rather interesting etymology. It is mostly derived from the Japanese word su, which means vinegar. The meaning of the suffix shi is debated since no one really knows how it got attached to su to form the word sushi. However, some believe that shi might mean "to fix" or "to control", which makes sense considering how every sushi piece is meticulously crafted and arranged.