The 'immortal' jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii To date, there's only one species that has been called '
Turtles have been known to live for centuries, and researches have found that their organs don't seem to break down over time. The New York Times reports that turtles might even be able to live indefinitely if they are able to avoid predators and disease.
The hydrozoan Turritopsis dohrnii, an animal about 4.5 millimetres wide and tall (likely making it smaller than the nail on your little finger), can actually reverse its life cycle. It has been dubbed the immortal jellyfish.
A study of American lobsters suggested that the reason these animals do not seem to slowdown in old age is due to them having an infinite supply of the enzyme telomerase throughout their cells. Like a cellular fountain of youth, this enzyme can extend a cell's life by regenerating telomers, putting off senescence.
The 'immortal' jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii
To date, there's only one species that has been called 'biologically immortal': the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii.
Flatworms, nematodes, and cnidarians (jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals) do not have a circulatory system and thus do not have blood.
In nature, most Turritopsis dohrnii are likely to succumb to predation or disease in the medusa stage without reverting to the polyp form. The capability of biological immortality with no maximum lifespan makes T. dohrnii an important target of basic biological, aging and pharmaceutical research.
What to do if your lobster dies. Should they die and you've kept them cold, you can still cook them. According to State of Maine food safety experts, dead lobster can be consumed safely up to 24 hours from time of death, if refrigerated properly at or below 38°F (the temperature of the average home refrigerator).
Many ocean-dwellers like some starfish and octopuses have the capacity to extend their life, thanks to regeneration.
Can jellyfish feel pain? Jellyfish don't feel pain in the same way that humans would. They do not possess a brain, heart, bones or a respiratory system. They are 95% water and contain only a basic network of neurons that allow them to sense their environment.
The researchers found many of the duplicated genes among them, including some that protect and repair the jellyfish's DNA, as DNA is often eroded with age in animals. To trigger rejuvenation, the researchers put the jellyfish under stress by letting them go hungry, among other regimens.
The percentage of genetic similarities between humans and animals does vary: chimps, 97% similar; cats, 90%; cows, 80%; mice, 75%; fruit flies, 60%, and jellyfish, 60%. Before the Cnidaria DNA sequencing, scientists expressed incredulity that there was any comparison.
They react differently when external stimuli are applied while sleeping and while awake. But the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus show the same reaction in both situations. This indicates that bullfrogs do not sleep. Lithobates catesbeianus is an animal that cannot sleep.
Oldest animal ever
The longest-lived animal ever discovered is a quahog clam, estimated to be 507 years old. It had been living on the seabed off the north coast of Iceland until it was scooped up by researchers in 2006 as part of a climate change study.
Another specimen had a recorded lifespan of 374 years. The tubeworm Escarpia laminata that lives in deep sea cold seeps regularly reaches the age of between 100 and 200 years, with some individuals determined to be more than 300 years old. It is possible some may live for over 1000 years.
It minimizes the risk of food poisoning
So, to minimize the risk of food poisoning, crustaceans are often cooked alive. That said, many consider the practice to be unethical as crustaceans are living things and consequently, can feel pain.
Lobsters and other shellfish have harmful bacteria naturally present in their flesh. Once the lobster is dead, these bacteria can rapidly multiply and release toxins that may not be destroyed by cooking. You therefore minimise the chance of food poisoning by cooking the lobster alive.
Whether it is believed the lobsters experience pain or not, killing the lobster just before cooking is the preferred method. Perhaps this is for the benefit of the cook as a way to minimize trauma since most people are disconnected from the killing of animals they eat.
Elephants can run up to 25 miles per hour. However, they remain the only mammal on earth that can't jump. They always keep one leg on the ground - even when running.
Of those that do exist, the oldest-known jellyfish fossils, found in Utah, date to 505 million years ago and have enough detail to show clear relationships with some modern species of jellyfish.
Takeaways. Giant Pacific Octopuses are creatures of high intelligence and high amicability. While they have the ability to inflict harm on humans if they wanted to, no attacks thus far have been fatal or even harmful (albeit still scary!).
The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
Snails, spiders and octopi have something in common- they all have blue blood! We're not talking in the sense of royalty, these creatures literally have blue blood. So why is their blood blue and ours red? One of the purposes of blood is to carry oxygen around the body.
One group of segmented marine worms has pink blood. This is because the molecule that carries the oxygen is a type of blood pigment, known as hemerythrin, which is described as pink or purple.