May 24/2023

 

Life Expectancies for 10 Popular Unique Pets

By Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP

1/24/2019

Let’s say you would really like to adopt a pet chinchilla, but you don’t know whether you are getting into a 2-year commitment or a 12-year commitment.

You can reasonably expect a dog or cat to at least reach the age of 10, under the right conditions, but what about the life expectancies of nontraditional & exotic pets?

Other pets besides dogs & cats have varying longevities, so it’s important to do your research before you adopt so you know how long you will be committed to care for them.

Here’s what you need to know about the life expectancies of 10 common yet unique pets, along with tips for maximizing your time with them.

1. Ferrets

Ferrets are wonderfully cool pets that are extremely active, intelligent, & curious. Although often sold as “caged pets,” they should not be kept in cages full-time because they need a tremendous amount of time to exercise, explore, & play.

However, they can manage to find trouble—so one key to maximizing their lifespan is making the house safe for them & being sure there are no holes, nooks or crannies where they can squeeze into & nothing that they can eat or swallow.

It is very important to feed a high-quality ferret food—cat foods are not recommended for ferrets because they generally contain too many carbs & too few fats for the best ferret nutrition.

A pet ferret will also need vaccines & regular veterinary care.

Under the right conditions, a healthy, well-cared for ferret will usually live 6-9 years.

2. Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are docile, sweet, social rodents who can be very vocal & interactive with their owners as they learn & adapt to your routines. Although they can do well spending much of the day in a large guinea pig cage, they also need plenty of time outside of their cage every day for socializing.

The biggest key to keeping a guinea pig healthy is feeding her an appropriate guinea pig food. Guinea pigs need unlimited grass hay (any except alfalfa hay); plenty of fresh, leafy green vegetables; & daily servings of vegetables that contain vitamin C, such as bell peppers.

Guinea pigs can develop a vitamin C deficiency if not supplemented, & vitamin C in the water or pelleted food often degrades before it is eaten by the pig. 

Believe it or not, the pelleted diets sold for guinea pigs should not be fed in unlimited amounts; roughly 2 tablespoons each day per guinea pig is plenty to provide the nutrition needed without making the pet pig obese or damaging the teeth.

Properly fed & cared for, guinea pigs will usually live 4-6 years.

3. Rabbits

Rabbits are great pets that give back every ounce of love you offer to them.

Although they can spend some time every day in a large rabbit cage, they do best in a large, enclosed rabbit playpen where there are plenty of rabbit toys to play with, boxes to climb on, & things to see & do. 

These activities help to keep the muscles & bones strong & prevent diseases later in life. Rabbits should ideally NOT be kept outside or in garages; not only does this limit their social interaction with the family (leading to a very boring life), but they are very sensitive to heat, & it is possible for them to overheat quickly if left outdoors unattended.  

The most important thing a pet parent can do to help keep their rabbit healthy over time is to feed her properly. Rabbits should be fed an unlimited amount of grass hay (any except alfalfa) as well as an unlimited amount of leafy green vegetables (romaine, kale, parsley, dandelion greens). 

If a wide enough variety of hay & greens are fed, rabbits do not even need commercial rabbit pellets to stay healthy. However, if you choose to offer them pellets, feed no more than 2 tablespoons of rabbit food per 5 pounds of rabbit.

It is easy for rabbits to overeat pellets, which leads to problems that include obesity & dental disease. A diet that’s high in fiber may also prevent many causes of gastrointestinal stasis, a common problem in pet rabbits. 

Life expectancies in the rabbit vary widely by breed, with smaller rabbits living to be about 12-14 years old & larger rabbits living to be about 4-6 years old.

4. Chinchillas

Chinchillas are one of the longest-living rodents, & many people do not realize that they are bringing a long-term commitment into the house when they adopt one!

Active, playful, inquisitive, & wonderfully talented at making messes, these unique pets certainly liven up any household they join.

Feeding the chinchilla an unlimited portion of high-quality grass hay helps to prevent a large number of diseases. 

Male chinchillas are prone to a problem called “fur ring,” which can develop around their penis, preventing them from being able to urinate. Anyone owning a male chinchilla should check him regularly to avoid having this happen.

Believe it or not, chinchillas can easily live 10-12 years—or even longer.

5. Hedgehogs

The hedgehog is an adorable creature with a huge personality & absolute likes & dislikes. Because hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, you do need to be willing to stay up late to enjoy your pet hog to the fullest.

They need surprisingly large cages for such little tykes & should be allowed to hunt insects (crickets, dubia roaches, earthworms) for at least part of their diet.

They also need to have a heat source available in cooler temperatures—they should always have an area near 90°F available to them, should they choose to use it.

Unfortunately, hedgehogs are fairly short lived at only 18-24 months.

6. Hamsters

Hamsters are heavily nocturnal & will often be grumpy if awakened outside of their normal “active periods,” which means they are not generally the best pets for children.

When they are awake, however, they are tremendously fun to watch & are incredibly industrious creatures. Hamsters are great escape artists—managing to chew their way out of many different types of hamster cages—& this has caused the demise of many pet hamsters.

Another source of injury is running wheels that have “slats” instead of a solid surface to run on. It is not uncommon for a hamster to accidentally slip a leg through the slats & break their leg.

Well-cared-for hamsters can live for 12-18 months.

7. Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons are becoming popular exotic pets. They have specific husbandry requirements with lighting, temperature, humidity, & diet, which are needed to keep them healthy.

I would recommend consulting a reptile-knowledgeable veterinarian for guidance before purchasing a pet bearded dragon to make sure you have all of the basics in place to keep your dragon healthy.

Unfortunately, most of the dragons we see kept as pets die at a relatively young age—less than 5 years—but under the right conditions, they can live to about a ripe old age of 12!

8. Ducks

Ducks are becoming a wonderful—but noisy!—alternative or addition to chickens for many backyard flocks. Ducks are more social than chickens & have differing husbandry needs, so I do not recommend keeping them together. 

Ducks need a constant source of water available—not only for drinking, but also for bathing. They can choke on their food easily if they are not able to get large mouthfuls of water readily. 

Their nutritional needs are also different from chickens, & so they should be fed a diet designed for waterfowl & not chicken food. In my area, I need to special order this online, meaning I need to plan ahead to be sure I never run out!

Although ducks are unusual pets that are much more work than chickens, they are also incredibly bonded to their keeper, considering them part of the “flock.” Well-provided-for ducks can live for 12-15 years.

9. Rats

Rats are amazingly friendly & unique small pets with a personality much larger than their body size! They are extremely social & do best if kept in small groups.

Rats are prone to a number of diseases if overfed & allowed to become obese, so I strongly recommend limiting the amount of calories offered. I also recommend keeping track of what you feed your rat in case your rat is “stashing” food to eat later. If he is, & you see an empty bowl, you might fill it back up, causing your rat to continue to gain weight despite a strict diet.

Another common problem, especially with female rats, is related to their hormones. We see a tremendous number of mammary gland tumors develop in female rats that have not been spayed—& I recommend spaying at a young age to prevent these problems. 

When rats have been neutered or spayed & are fed a proper diet, we can expect them to live about 2-3 years.

10. Leopard Geckos

Leopard geckos are another type of exotic pet that is becoming more popular. Although primarily nocturnal, these lizards can be very friendly, & they are often fascinating to watch. 

They have specific housing requirements, including an area that is near 100°F & 100 percent humidity, & that takes some work & planning to accomplish. They also need a wide variety of food items such as dubia roaches, phoenix worms, & small crickets, many of which are not easily available in local pet stores. 

Keeping any reptile properly requires some research into their needs & some effort to be sure you can meet them adequately. 

That being said, leopard geckos can have a life expectancy of 15-20 years.

As you can see, these unusual pets have a wide range of life expectancies, with many being long-term commitments similar to—or even greater than—a dog or cat!  So with proper care, you can look forward to many, many happy years together with your unique, exotic pet animal!

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May 17/2023

 

8 Fun Facts About Dog Tails

By Lisa Laureta

4/ 11/ 2023

From long, luxurious, & fluffy, to short, cropped, or barely existing, all dogs have some form of tail which serve many purposes including telling us more than just when they're happy. Pet parents love to see a good tail wag, tailless butt wiggle, & even a good tail chasing. But how much do you actually know about your dog's tail? Here are 8 fun facts you may not know about these adorable appendages.

1. A dog's tail is important body language communication.

A dog wagging it's tail is often used as an indication that they're happy, however this is not always the case. Many dogs may also wag their tails when they're on the attack, defense, or otherwise displeased. The differences can be subtle, but don't always assume that just because a tail is wagging, the pooch it's attached to is happy.

Tails can also communicate other emotions. For example, a tail high up, stiffly sticking straight up in the air can be an indication that the dog is feeling aggressive or defensive, while a tail tucked between the legs can mean the dog is fearful or nervous. In the latter case, it's thought that the tail is protecting the dog's private parts as well as blocking their scent glands.

Be sure to read other body language cues like panting, body rigidity, ear position, & the actual tail's position to see whether it's a happy tail wag or something else.

2. Dogs learn how to wag their tail.

Dogs don't wag their tails until later in puppyhood. It typically takes a dog at least 4 to 6 weeks to learn tail wagging. This learned behavior typically comes from their littermates &/or their parents. Although, many dog's tail wags will begin instinctively even if there are no other dogs or tailed animals.

3. Dogs need their tail for balance.

Dogs use their tails as a counterweight similar to how humans on a tightrope use a long pole for balance. The tail goes one way when the body goes the other, thus working to counterbalance weight shifts, making them more easily able to stay balanced.

4. Dog tails spread scent from scent glands.

When a dog wags their tail, the tail muscles aren't the only ones at work. Their rectum is also contracting and expanding, which aids pheromones in escaping their anal glands. The tail then wafts the pheromones into the air, spreading a scent. This can help dogs with communication, mating, and territory marking.

5. Dog tails are an extension of the spine.

Don't get too rough with your dog's tail, it is after all an extension of their spinal cord. A tail contains different muscles than those along the main part of their spinal column, allowing for extra flexibility. This is why tails can be an extra sensitive part of a dog's body. Because of this, some groomers will experience trouble when lifting or working on a dog's tail if the dog has had previous back injuries.

6. How many bones are in a dog tail?

Because they seem so flexible many people don't realize that a dog's tail actually has bones in it. A dog's tail is made up of muscle, cartilage, & vertebra bones which extend from their spine. The bones are larger at the base, closer to the dog's body, & gradually become smaller toward the tip of the tail. While the amount of bones in a dog's tail varies, they can contain as many as 23 vertebrae.

7. Tail shape is a result of domestication.

Dogs have evolved many traits while spending time as domesticated human friends. White pigmentation, floppy ears, & curly tails are a result of dogs showing their reduced aggression & increased sociability. Some breed's tails are specific to the job they were bred for. For example, many hunting dogs like retrievers & greyhounds have been bred to have tails that help with jobs like chasing, swimming, & water retrieval.

8. Tail docking is illegal in many places.

Tail docking, like ear cropping, became a popular practice with protection dog breeds because a docked tail is always in a straight-up, aka aggressive, position. This leads to people thinking the dog is a threat and staying out of the way of a guard dog. This practice can be extremely unfair to the dog because their emotions are often misread by humans and animals. If another dog misreads a dog's body language as threatening, it can lead to unnecessary dog fights.

But protection breeds aren't the only ones who get their tails cropped. Working dogs like the corgi also often have cropped tails to help them not get stepped on when herding. However, when your dog isn't working the job they were bred for, there's no real reason to continue this cruel practice. Similar to declawing a cat, docking a tail cuts off not only soft tissue but also bones. In this case part of the dog's spine is removed.

In some countries, like Australia, tail docking is actually illegal. Tail docking in the US is regulated but technically legal so long as a professional veterinarian performs the procedure under anesthesia. However, because it's considered to be voluntary & also quite inhumane, it's highly discouraged & not covered by pet insurance.

9. Why does a dog chase its tail?

A 2012 article in Psychology Today suggested that dogs can experience something similar to obsessive compulsive disorder in humans. In dogs, repetitive actions from OCD like tail chasing or pacing, seem

to be more common in bull terriers & German shepherds.

Your puppy could chase its tail because it just discovered that body part & it is fun to watch it move. An older dog could chase its tail because of boredom. If your dog is chasing its tail & seemingly trying to scratch or chew at its base, it could be worth looking into whether it is being pestered by fleas or possibly dog food allergies that are causing it distress.

The bottom line

Tails serve more purpose than just letting us know that our dogs are happy. Learning to read the different movements of your dog's tail can be fun & educational, & lead to a more fulfilling relationship.

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May 10/2023

 

The Perks of Pigs: Fun Facts About Pigs

By The Editors

almanac.com

4/ 10/2023

Pigs are highly intelligent. They consistently rank between the top 4 & top 7 of the most intelligent animals on Earth. Pigs have a good memory & learn quickly. They are considered by animal experts to be at least as trainable as dogs or cats. Pigs can be house-broken & can be taught to use a litter box, much like a cat. Their ability to solve problems is well-documented. During a study in the 1990’s, pigs were trained to move a cursor on a video screen with their snouts & used the cursor to distinguish between scribbles they knew & those they were seeing for the first time. They learned the task as quickly as chimpanzees.

No barnyard animal has a better sense of smell. The large round disk of cartilage at the tip of the snout is connected to muscle that gives it extra flexibility & strength for rooting in the ground. By rooting, & thus disturbing the soil, pigs disperse plant seeds & play an important role in managing ecosystems. Pigs’ sense of smell is so keen that they can smell something that is 25 feet underground! Their sense of smell can also help humans. Some pigs are trained to law enforcement. They can sniff out drugs, just like dogs.

Pigs are one of the cleanest animals. Huh? They have the reputation for being slovenly because they wallow in mud. However, pigs lack sweat glands. They roll around in the mud to stay cool in hot weather. Caking mud on their bodies also prevents sunburn & deters insect infestation. Without mud, pigs could get second-degree burns all over their body.

But why do pig seem to smell so much? A bare pig is odor-free; the odor comes from their living style. If pigs have enough room, they keep their toilet area far away from where they live & muck about. Even newborn piglets will leave the nest to go to the toilet within hours of birth. However, as pigs are often confined or their living area isn’t cleaned frequently enough, the mud, fecal matter, & food waste create various odoriferous gases. Some of these odor-causing chemicals aren’t that different from our own human latrines; it doesn’t matter if it’s of livestock or human origin. 

Ever heard the expressing “pigging out”? Pigs do have a reputation for being gluttonous, messy eaters. They making snorting & smacking sounds, & just delight in eating. (Hey, who are we to judge?) Pigs primarily like to dine on roots & vegetables; this is what they eat in the wild. However, they will eat just about anything you give them. (There’s a joke that says pigs would even eat you, just as we would eat them!) Interestingly, the stomach of a pig is proportionately much smaller than that of a sheep or a cow. They are naturally lean, too, unless they are overfed by humans.

The pig is the friendliest animal on the farm by far: always available for a scratch behind the ears, hardly ever moody, & quick with a grunt of delight. They love to play & engage in mock fighting with each other, similar to play in dogs & other mammals. They form close bonds with other animals & love to cuddle & lie down against each other.

Pigs are social. They live in complex social communities where they keep track of individuals & learn from one another. They cooperate with one another, & prefer living in groups, just as a dog likes to be part of a pack. Also, like dogs, they respond to the “top pig,” & will not necessarily think you are the “boss” if you don’t act like one. Winston Churchill famously said that “Dogs look up to man. Cats look down to man. Pigs look us straight in the eye & see an equal.”

Pigs are very peaceful animals & rarely show aggression, even though some pigs are very large & sometimes have tusks. They’ll only show aggression if they or their young are threatened. Pigs are athletic, too; the fastest member of the pig family is the warthog, which can reach speeds of 35 MPH. Interestingly, the pig has cloven hooves—an adaptation shared with more timid prey animals like the sheep, deer, & antelope; pigs, however, are neither timid nor afraid. 

Looking for how to find out how much your pig weighs? Measure its girth (in inches) by wrapping a tape measure around the animal just behind the front legs. Then measure the length from the ears to the base of the tail. The pig’s weight (in pounds) will be equal to the square of the girth, times the length, divided by 400. If math isn’t your thing, buy a hog tape at the feed store; the calculations are built in.

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May 3/2023

 

The longest-living animals on Earth

By Patrick Pester 

livescience.com

11/9/2022

The longest-living animals are equipped with traits to hold off, & sometimes even stop or reverse, the aging process. While humans may have an "absolute limit" of 150 years, this is just a blink of an eye compared with the centuries & millennia that some animals live through.

The true age champions live in water, often at great depths where conditions are stable & consistent. Scientists can't record the birth & death of every member of a species, so they typically estimate maximum life spans based on what is known about a species' biology. From old to oldest, here are 12 of the longest-living animals in the world today.

12. SEYCHELLES GIANT TORTOISE: 190+ YEARS OLD

Tortoises are famed for their longevity. The oldest living land animal is a 190-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) named Jonathan. The tortoise lives on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean after having been brought there by people from the Seychelles in 1882. Jonathan's age is an estimate, but a photograph of him taken between 1882 & 1886 shows he was fully mature — at least 50 years old — in the late 19th century, Live Science previously reported.    

On Jan. 12, 2022, Guinness World Records announced that Jonathan was the oldest tortoise ever. "He is a local icon, symbolic of persistence in the face of change," Joe Hollins, Jonathan's veterinarian, told Guinness World Records at the time. 

Giant tortoises need to live a long time so they can breed repeatedly & produce plenty of eggs, because many of their eggs are eaten by predators. Their ability to quickly kill off damaged cells that normally deteriorate with age may help tortoises live so long, Live Science previously reported.  

11. RED SEA URCHINS: 200 YEARS OLD

Red sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) are small, round invertebrates covered in spines. They live in shallow coastal waters off North America from California to Alaska, where they feed on marine plants, according to Oregon State University. Researchers used to assume that red sea urchins grew quickly & had modest life spans of up to about 10 years, but as scientists studied the species in more detail, they realized these urchins continue to grow very slowly &, in some locations, will survive for centuries if they can avoid predators, disease, & fishers.  

The red sea urchins found off Washington & Alaska probably live more than 100 years, & the longest-living individuals in British Columbia, Canada, may be around 200 years old, according to a 2003 study published in the journal Fishery Bulletin. 

10. BOWHEAD WHALE: POTENTIALLY 200+ YEARS OLD

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) are the longest-living mammals. The Arctic & sub-Arctic whales' exact life span is unknown, but stone harpoon tips found in some harvested individuals prove that they comfortably live over 100 years & may live more than 200 years, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The whales have mutations in a gene called ERCC1, which is involved with repairing damaged DNA, that may help protect the whales from cancer, a potential cause of death. Furthermore, another gene, called PCNA, has a section that has been duplicated. This gene is involved in cell growth & repair, & the duplication could slow aging, Live Science previously reported. 

Studying these long-lived whales could provide hints about how to prolong human life. "My own view is that different long-lived species use different tricks to evolve long life spans, & there aren't many genes in common," João Pedro de Magalhães, an expert in aging science at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., previously told Live Science. "But you do find some common pathways, so there may be common patterns." 

9. ROUGHEYE ROCKFISH: 200+ YEARS OLD

The rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus) is one of the longest-living fish, with a maximum life span of at least 205 years, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. These pink or brownish fish live in the Pacific Ocean from California to Japan. They grow up to 38 inches (97 centimeters) long & eat other animals, such as shrimp & smaller fish, according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, an independent advisory panel that assesses the statuses of species threatened with extinction in Canada. 

A 2021 study published in the journal Science looked at the genomes of 88 rockfish species, including rougheye rockfish, & found genetic calling cards for longevity, including DNA repair pathways that may help ward off cancers. A longer life span allows the rockfish to grow larger & produce more young. 

8. FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL: 250+ YEARS OLD

Freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) are bivalves that filter particles of food from the water. They live mainly in rivers & streams & can be found in Europe & North America. The oldest known freshwater pearl mussel was 280 years old, according to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. These invertebrates have long life spans thanks to their low metabolism.

Freshwater pearl mussels are an endangered species. Their population is declining due to a variety of human-related factors, including damage & changes to the river habitats they depend on, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

7. GREENLAND SHARK: 272+ YEARS OLD

Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) live deep in the Arctic & North Atlantic oceans. They can grow to be 24 feet (7.3 meters) long & have a diet that includes a variety of other animals, including fish & marine mammals such as seals, according to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory in Canada.

A 2016 study of Greenland shark eye tissue, published in the journal Science, estimated that these sharks can have a maximum life span of at least 272 years. The biggest shark in that study was estimated to be about 392 years old, & the researchers suggested that the sharks could have been up to 512 years old, Live Science previously reported. The age estimates came with a degree of uncertainty, but even the lowest estimate of 272 years still makes these sharks the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, Julius Nielsen, a researcher at Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, previously told Live Science.  

6. TUBEWORM: 300+ YEARS OLD

Tube worms are invertebrates that live on the ocean floor. Bacteria in their tubes create sugars from chemicals, which they absorb as food, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Dive & Discover website. Some tube worms live around hydrothermal vents, but the longest-living species are found in colder, more stable environments called cold seeps, where chemicals spew from cracks or fissures in the seafloor, according to the Exploring Our Fluid Earth website hosted by the University of Hawaii. 

A 2017 study published in the journal The Science of Nature found that Escarpia laminata, a cold-seep species of tube worm in the Gulf of Mexico, regularly lives up to 200 years, & some specimens survive for more than 300 years. Tube worms have a slow metabolism & few natural threats (such as predators), which has helped these creatures evolve such long life spans. 

5. OCEAN QUAHOG CLAM: 500+ YEARS OLD

Ocean quahog clams (Arctica islandica) inhabit the North Atlantic Ocean. This saltwater species can live even longer than the other bivalve on this list, the freshwater pearl mussel. One ocean quahog clam found off the coast of Iceland in 2006 was 507 years old, according to National Museum Wales in the U.K. The ancient clam was nicknamed Ming because it was born in 1499, when the Ming dynasty ruled China (from 1368 to 1644). 

"In the colder waters surrounding Iceland the Ocean Quahog has a slower metabolism & so grows slowly & may even live for longer than 507 — scientists just haven't found an older one yet!" Anna Holmes, curator of invertebrate biodiversity (bivalves) at National Museum Wales, wrote on the museum's website in 2020. 

4. BLACK CORAL: 4,000+ YEARS OLD

Corals look like colorful, underwater rocks & plants, but they are actually made up of the exoskeletons of invertebrates called polyps. These polyps continually multiply & replace themselves by creating a genetically identical copy, which over time causes the coral exoskeleton structure to grow bigger & bigger. Corals are therefore made up of multiple identical organisms rather than being a single organism, so a coral's life span is more of a team effort. 

Deep-water black corals are among the longest-living corals. Black coral specimens found off the coast of Hawaii have been radiocarbon dated to be 4,265 years old, Live Science previously reported. 

3. GLASS SPONGE: 10,000+ YEARS OLD

Sponges are made up of colonies of animals, similar to corals, & can also live for thousands of years. Glass sponges are among the longest-living sponges on Earth. Members of this group are often found in the deep ocean & have skeletons that resemble glass, hence their name, according to NOAA. 

A 2012 study published in the journal Chemical Geology estimated that a glass sponge belonging to the species Monorhaphis chuni was about 11,000 years old. Other sponge species may be able to live even longer. 

2. TURRITOPSIS DOHRNII: POTENTIALLY IMMORTAL

Turritopsis dohrnii is called the immortal jellyfish because it can potentially live forever. Jellyfish start life as larvae before establishing themselves on the seafloor & transforming into polyps. These polyps then produce free-swimming medusas, or jellyfish. Mature T. dohrnii are special in that they can turn back into polyps if they are physically damaged or starving, according to the American Museum of Natural History, & then later return to their jellyfish state.

The jellyfish, which are native to the Mediterranean Sea, can repeat this feat of reversing their life cycle multiple times & therefore may never die of old age under the right conditions, according to the Natural History Museum in London. T. dohrnii are tiny — less than 0.2 inch (4.5 millimeters) across — & are eaten by other animals, such as fish, or may die by other means, thus preventing them from actually achieving immortality.

1. HYDRA: POTENTIALLY IMMORTAL

Hydra is a group of small invertebrates with soft bodies that slightly resemble jellyfish &, like T. dohrnii, have the potential to live forever. These invertebrates are largely made up of stem cells, which continually regenerate through duplication or cloning, so these animals don't deteriorate as they get older. They do die under natural conditions because of threats such as predators & disease, but without these external dangers, they could keep regenerating forever. 

"They don't seem to age, so potentially, they are immortal," Daniel Martínez, a biology professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California, who discovered the hydra's lack of aging, previously told Live Science. 

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