This is a list of maximum recorded animal lifespans in captivity. Only animals from the classes of the Chordata phylum are included. [1] On average, captive animals (especially mammals) live longer than wild animals. This may be due to the fact that zoos provide refuge against diseases, competition with others of the same species and predators. Most notably, animals with shorter lifespans and faster growth rates benefit more from zoos than animals with higher longevities and slow growth rates. [2]
Family | Name | Binomial name | Image | Maximum lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alligatoridae | American alligator | Alligator mississippiensis | 87 years [3] [4] | |
Cathartidae | Andean condor | Vultur gryphus | 80 years [5] | |
Elephantidae | Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | 79.6 years [6] | |
Corvidae | Common raven | Corvus corax | 69 years [7] | |
Hominidae | Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | 68 years [8] | |
Elephantidae | African bush elephant | Loxodonta africana | 65 years [9] | |
Hippopotamidae | Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | 61.2 years [10] | |
Crocodylidae | Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | 56 years [11] | |
Struthionidae | Ostrich | Struthio | 50 years [12] | |
Accipitridae | Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 48 years [13] | |
Rhinocerotidae | White rhinoceros | Ceratotherium simum | 45 years [14] | |
Anatidae | Canada goose | Branta canadensis | 42 years [15] | |
Boidae | Boa constrictor | Boa constrictor | 40.4 years [16] | |
Ursidae | Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | 40 years [17] | |
Giraffidae | Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis | 39.5 years [18] | |
Columbidae | Rock dove | Columba livia | 35 years [19] | |
Bovidae | African buffalo | Syncerus caffer | 32.8 years [20] | |
Camelidae | Dromedary camel | Camelus dromedarius | 28.4 years [21] | |
Felidae | Jaguar | Panthera onca | 28 years [22] | |
Felidae | Lion | Panthera leo | 28 years [23] | |
Felidae | Cougar | Puma concolor | 27 years [24] | |
Bovidae | Fallow deer | Cervus dama | 27 years [25] | |
Felidae | Tiger | Panthera tigris | 26.3 years [26] | |
Bovidae | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra | 23.9 years [27] | |
Castoridae | American beaver | Castor canadensis | 23.4 years [28] | |
Bovidae | Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus | 22 years [29] | |
Canidae | Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | 21.3 years [30] | |
Canidae | Grey wolf | Canis lupus | 20.6 years [31] | |
Mustelidae | Giant otter | Pteronura brasiliensis | 17.3 years [32] | |
Bovidae | Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | 15.5 years [33] |
Longevity may refer to especially long-lived members of a population, whereas life expectancy is defined statistically as the average number of years remaining at a given age. For example, a population's life expectancy at birth is the same as the average age at death for all people born in the same year.
Maximum life span is a measure of the maximum amount of time one or more members of a population have been observed to survive between birth and death. The term can also denote an estimate of the maximum amount of time that a member of a given species could survive between birth and death, provided circumstances that are optimal to that member's longevity.
Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda. The seven extant members of this group are: dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. Camelids are even-toed ungulates classified in the order Artiodactyla, along with species including whales, pigs, deer, cattle, and antelopes.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a non-profit zoo located near Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, United States, north of the city of Columbus. The land lies along the eastern banks of the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir on the Scioto River, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Powell Road. It has a worldwide reputation, largely attributable to the efforts and promotion of director emeritus Jack Hanna. In 2009, it was named by the USA Travel Guide as the number one zoo in the United States. It was also ranked number one best zoo in 2012 by Besties Readers Choice.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a zoo and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Biological immortality is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury, poison, disease, predation, lack of available resources, or changes to environment.
Wildlife Safari is a drive-through safari and zoological park in Winston, Oregon, United States. The park’s main draw are the 615-acre (249 ha) pastures and field enclosures which visitors drive their own vehicles through, enabling many up-close animal encounters and photo opportunities. These expansive field exhibits, divided into regions such as Africa, Asia and the Americas, mainly feature the park’s ungulate herds and larger hoofed mammals, as well as larger species of birds, including cranes and ratites. Visitors also drive past naturalistic exhibits featuring black and brown bears, cheetahs, lions and tigers.
Enquiry into the evolution of ageing, or aging, aims to explain why a detrimental process such as ageing would evolve, and why there is so much variability in the lifespans of organisms. The classical theories of evolution suggest that environmental factors, such as predation, accidents, disease, and/or starvation, ensure that most organisms living in natural settings will not live until old age, and so there will be very little pressure to conserve genetic changes that increase longevity. Natural selection will instead strongly favor genes which ensure early maturation and rapid reproduction, and the selection for genetic traits which promote molecular and cellular self-maintenance will decline with age for most organisms.
Diergaarde Blijdorp, officially Rotterdam Zoo, is a zoo located in the northwestern part of Rotterdam. It is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and has been operated by the Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Diergaarde. Divided into several zoogeographic regions, the 26-hectare (64.25-acre) Blijdorp Zoo boasts 562 species. It also has a shop, multiple cafes, and an information centre.
Bioparco di Roma is a 17-hectare (42-acre) zoological garden located on part of the original Villa Borghese estate in Rome, Italy. There are 1,114 animals of 222 species maintained.
Assiniboine Park Zoo is an 80-acre (32 ha) zoo at the west end of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has been best known for decades for its polar bear exhibit, of which the old enclosure was replaced in 2013 with Journey to Churchill.
The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a 116-acre (47 ha) zoo and botanical garden located north of Orlando, Florida in Sanford. As a not-for-profit organization, it is a leader in conservation, providing experiences that inspire actions on behalf of wildlife. The Zoo has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1986.
Ageing is the process of becoming older. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi, whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentially biologically immortal. In a broader sense, ageing can refer to single cells within an organism which have ceased dividing, or to the population of a species.
Sarcocystis is a genus of parasitic Apicomplexan alveolates. Species in this genus infect reptiles, birds and mammals. The name is derived from Greek: sarkos = flesh and kystis = bladder.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of biological aging (senescence), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age. There are many species where scientists have seen no increase in mortality after maturity. This may mean that the lifespan of the organism is so long that researchers' subjects have not yet lived up to the time when a measure of the species' longevity can be made. Turtles, for example, were once thought to lack senescence, but more extensive observations have found evidence of decreasing fitness with age.
The boa constrictor, also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae. The species is native to tropical South America. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Four subspecies are recognized.
Joao Pedro De Magalhaes is a Portuguese microbiologist. He studies aging through both computational and experimental approaches. His ultimate goal is to cure human aging.
Wildlife HQ Zoo, is located at the Big Pineapple, Woombye, Queensland on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and opened in November 2013. In March 2014 many animals were relocated from the now closed Alma Park Zoo.