Imagine living to be 190 years old. You’d witness many historical moments and advancements in society throughout those years. While this longevity may not exist yet for humans, for the giant Seychelles tortoise, the oldest land animal in the world, this is a reality.
The now-famous giant tortoise is turning 190 in 2022 and thanks to a recent study, researchers may know why he and other ectotherms — cold-blooded animals — live longer lives. Penn State and Northeastern Illinois University led a team of 114 international scientists, who composed one of the most comprehensive studies of aging and longevity to date. They collected data from 107 populations of 77 species of reptiles and amphibians from across the world.
The study, published in Science, documents the first time turtles, salamanders, and crocodilians have a slower aging rate and longer life spans compared to their size. Researchers also found that turtle or tortoise shells may contribute to slower aging, or even “negligible aging” — the lack of biological aging.
