Some Clams Can Live Over 500 Years

Ocean quahogs (Arctica islandica) are among the longest-lived animals on Earth. These clams grow annual rings in their shells, much like trees, allowing scientists to determine their age. The record holder, named 'Ming' after the Chinese dynasty that ruled when it was born, was initially thought to be 405 years old but later analysis revealed it was actually 507 years old. Tragically, the clam was killed during the research process when scientists opened its shell to count the rings. These clams can live so long because they have extremely slow metabolisms and are resistant to aging and disease.