What Is the Oldest Living Thing in the World?

According to an analysis published in the journal PLos ONE, the oldest living thing in the world is an ancient seagrass known as Posidonia oceanic. Australian scientists estimated it to be approximately 200,000 years old when it was discovered in the Mediterranean sea, from Spain to Cyprus, in 2012. Scientists believe that the seagrass is able to live so long because it is asexual.

It can reproduce on its own and essentially clone itself as needed. Over time, as Posidonia oceanic expands by growing more branches. Each individual patch of the seagrass weighs about 6,000 tons and takes up about 10 miles (16 km) over the Mediterranean sea.

The second oldest living thing in the world is believed to be a 43,000 year old Tasmanian shrub, Lomatia tasmanica.

More about the oldest living things on Earth:

• A French woman named Jeanne Calment is considered the person who lived the longest in documented history, and was 122 when she died in 1997.
• An Antarctic sponge is thought to be the oldest living animal at an estimated 10,000 years old.
• The Giant Basin Bristlecone Pine tree is the oldest tree, at over 5,000 years old.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is currently considered the oldest living organism on Earth?

The title of the oldest living organism is often attributed to a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) named Methuselah, which is over 4,800 years old. However, there are also ancient clonal colonies like Pando, an aspen grove in Utah, estimated to be around 80,000 years old, challenging the definition of a single "oldest living thing."

How do scientists determine the age of the oldest living organisms?

Scientists use dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, to determine the age of tree-based organisms like the bristlecone pines. For clonal colonies, age estimates are based on the size of the organism and the growth rates observed in related organisms. Radiocarbon dating and genetic testing can also provide insights into the age of ancient life forms.

Are there any organisms that have lived longer than the bristlecone pines?

Yes, there are organisms that have lived longer than the bristlecone pines. Clonal colonies, such as the aforementioned Pando aspen grove, are believed to have lived for tens of thousands of years. Additionally, some sea grasses, like Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean, have been estimated to be around 100,000 years old.

Can any animal species compete with plants in terms of longevity?

While plants and clonal colonies hold the record for longevity, some animal species can live for remarkably long times. The ocean quahog clam (Arctica islandica) can live for over 500 years, and there are reports of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) living for nearly 400 years, but these lifespans are still much shorter than those of the oldest plants.

What factors contribute to the longevity of these ancient organisms?

Longevity in these ancient organisms is often due to their slow growth rates, stable environments, and effective defense mechanisms against disease and physical damage. For clonal organisms, their ability to regenerate and spread through vegetative reproduction allows them to survive for millennia, essentially outliving individual organisms by continuously renewing parts of themselves.

Why is it important to study and protect the oldest living organisms?

Studying the oldest living organisms provides valuable insights into longevity, resilience, and the history of life on Earth. These ancient life forms can reveal changes in climate and environmental conditions over millennia. Protecting them is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and the integrity of ecosystems, as well as preserving these natural wonders for future scientific research and education.