{"id":38129,"date":"2024-04-25T13:37:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T11:37:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/36fa0e4a-b7ca-413f-ba76-c191ee51b3a9"},"modified":"2024-04-25T14:36:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T12:36:53","slug":"5-ways-to-live-forever-the-secrets-to-why-some-species-can-live-for-a-very-long-time","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/5-ways-to-live-forever-the-secrets-to-why-some-species-can-live-for-a-very-long-time\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to live forever: the secrets to why some species can live for a very long time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why are some species able to live for a very long time? We take a look at the characteristics needed for a long life <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 25 April 2024 at 11:37 AM<\/p>

\n\n

No single feature unites all relic lineages, but there are some common strategies that help them to survive. Here’s what you need to live a very long time….<\/p>

Is it really true that some animals live forever?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
LIVE ON THE EDGE<\/strong><\/p>
With fewer rival species, extreme habitats provide refuges for many relics:<\/p>
- Deep oceans provide a safe haven for frilled sharks and vampire squids<\/a> (one of the weirdest sea animals<\/a>).<\/li>
- Hot hydrothermal vents are inhabited by archaeabacteria.<\/li><\/ul>
  PROTECT YOURSELF<\/strong><\/p>
  Some relics have exceptionally effective defence mechanisms:<\/p>
  Amoebocytes in horseshoe crabs blood create clots when exposed to bacterial toxin, protecting the internal organs from infection<\/li>
  Scorpions have a beta-carboline coating their bodies that limits ultraviolet penetration<\/li>
  Yews<\/a> contain toxins that make them unpalatable to almost any herbivores.<\/li><\/ul>
  3 HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN<\/p>
  Relics can often survive long periods of dormancy or major damage to their bodies:<\/p>
  \ufeff\ufeffLungfish spend months buried in the sand if water becomes unavailable.<\/li>
  \ufeff\ufeffCycads can spend many months without leaves and roots, and can survive almost complete burning.<\/li>
  Tadpole shrimp eggs can live for years out of water, hatching and reproducing with amazing speed when rehydrated.<\/li><\/ul>
  FORM ALLIANCES<\/strong><\/p>
  Some relics have become more adaptable and competitive by developing partnerships:<\/p>
  Cycads have a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria. These take nitrogen from the air, enabling the plants to grow in virtually sterile conditions.<\/li>
  Termites<\/a> have flourished since the Jurassic thanks in part to their symbiosis with protozoans, which help them to digest wood.<\/li><\/ul>
  BE FLEXIBLE<\/strong><\/p>
  Members of very old lineages can often live in a range of environmental conditions:<\/p>
  Tardigrades<\/a> (also known as water bears and one of the weirdest animals in the world<\/a>) can withstand complete desiccation, very high pressure and temperatures ranging from -272\u00b0C to 150\u00b0.<\/li>
  Ferns grow in both full sun and shade, thanks to their unique photoreceptors.<\/li><\/ul>
  What’s the oldest creature on earth?<\/a><\/li>
  Ageing, immortality and lifespan in animals and plants explained<\/a><\/li>
  Do insects show signs of ageing?<\/a><\/li>
  Meet the ocean quahog, a strange creature that can live to 500 years old<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  Main image: Lungfish \u00a9 Getty Images<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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