How Long Does an Animal Live?

[CarolsCritterCare]

Large animals tend to live longer than smaller animals.... but there are many exceptions. For example, man is longer-lived than any other mammal. After man, in age, comes the elephant, hippopotamus, horse, rhinoceros, the bears, the big cats and many others which are larger in size. In general, birds live longer than mammals, and certain reptiles the longest of all.

A giant tortoise is known to have lived 152 years on the
island of Mauritius and then was killed accidentally or it might have lived a century longer. The common box turtle rather frequently reaches the 50-year mark.


The following examples of extreme old age have been chosen from the reliable records of zoos and aquariums all over the world.

MAMMALS YEARS
Elephant 69
Horse 50
Hippopotamus 49
Chimpanzee 40
Grizzly Bear 32
Bison 30
Lion 30
Tiger 25
Elk 22
Mountain Lion 20
Beaver 19
Wolf 16
Squirrel 16
Chipmunk 12
Cottontail 10
House Mouse 4

BIRDS YEARS
Turkey Buzzard 118
Swan 102
Parrot 80
Great Horned Owl 68
Eagle 55
English Sparrow 23
Canary 22
Humming Bird 8

REPTILES YEARS
Giant Tortoise 152
Box Turtle 123
Alligator 68
Snapping Turtle 57
Cobra 28
Cottonmouth 21

AMPHIBIANS YEARS
Giant Salamander 55
Toad 36
Bullfrog 30
Mud Puppy 23
Green Frog 10
Newt 7

FISH YEARS
Catfish 60
Eel 55
Carp 47
Mosquitofish 2

INSECTS YEARS
Cicada 17
Ant (queen) 15

[CarolsCritterCare]

Interestingly enough.....there seems to have been no change in the life span of dogs, cats, horses and cows under thousands of years of domestication by man.

[CarolsCritterCare]

The average lifespan of any dog whether purebred or of mixed breed is between 10 to 12 years of age. However individual breeds may have shorter or longer average lifespans depending upon their breed.

For example an Irish Wolfhound has a lifespan that is on average between 6 and 7 years of age ~ But a toy poodle or Lhasa Apso is going to have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years of age. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an average life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years.

[keith]

Fascinating stuff, Carol!

Regards,
Keith

[CarolsCritterCare]

Thanks Keith. I thought so too.

Our black lab died March 10th of this year and he was 18 yrs, 10 months old.