The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

We helped track 77 species for up to 60 years to try to reveal the secrets of long life. And some don't seem to age at all

  • Written by Mike Gardner, Flinders University
We helped track 77 species for up to 60 years to try to reveal the secrets of long life. And some don't seem to age at all

Ever wondered about the secret to a long life? Perhaps understanding the lifespans of other animals with backbones (or “vertebrates”) might help us unlock this mystery.

You’ve probably heard turtles live a long (and slow) life. At 190 years, Jonathan[1] the Seychelles giant tortoise might be the oldest land animal alive. But why do some animals live longer than others?

A large grey-brown tortoise stands in a grassy area, facing but looking away from the camera
Jonathan the tortoise lives on St Helena Island, a small, remote British colony west of Angola, Africa. St Helena Tourist Board/EPA

Research published today[2] by myself and colleagues in the journal Science investigates the various factors that may affect longevity (lifespan) and ageing in reptiles and amphibians.

We used long-term data from 77 different species of reptiles and amphibians – all cold-blooded animals. Our work is a collaboration between more than 100 scientists with up to 60 years of data on animals that were caught, marked, released and re-caught.

These data were then compared to existing information on warm-blooded animals, and several different ideas about ageing emerged.

What factors might be important?

One popular line of thought we investigated is the idea[3] that cold-blooded animals such as frogs, salamanders and reptiles live longer because they age more slowly.

These animals have to rely on external temperatures to help regulate their body temperature. As a result they have slower “metabolisms” (the rate at which they convert what they eat and drink into energy).

Animals that are small and warm-blooded, such as mice, age quickly since they have faster metabolisms – and turtles age slowly since they have slower metabolisms. By this logic, cold-blooded animals should have lower metabolisms than similar-sized warm-blooded ones.

However, we found cold-blooded animals don’t age more slowly than similar-sized warm-blooded ones. In fact, the variation in ageing in the reptiles and amphibians we looked at was much greater than previously predicted. So the reasons vertebrates age are more complex than this idea sets out.

Another related theory[4] is that environmental temperature itself could be a driver for longevity. For instance, animals in colder areas might be processing food more slowly and have periods of inactivity, such as with hibernation – leading to an overall increase in lifespan.

Under this scenario, both cold and warm-blooded animals in colder areas would live longer than animals in warmer areas.

We found this was true for reptiles as a group, but not for amphibians. Importantly, this finding has implications for the effects of global warming, which might lead to reptiles ageing faster in permanently warmer environments.

The stripy brown small lizard sits on a rock The Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is one of the cold-blooded species we studied. Shutterstock[5]

One suggestion[6] is that animals with certain types of protections, such as protruding spines, armour, venom or shells, also don’t age as fast and therefore live longer.

A lot of energy is put into producing these protections, which can allow animals to live longer by making them less vulnerable to predation. However, could it be the very fact of having these protections allows animals to age more slowly?

Our work found this to be true. It seems having such protections does lead to animals living longer. This is especially true for turtles, which have hard shell protection and incredibly long lifespans.

We’ll need to conduct more research to figure out why just having protections is linked to a longer life.

A crocodile sits on the bank of a river with its mouth open One species of crocodile studied, Crocodylus johnsoni, has a powerful armoured body with protruding scales that protect it from predation. Shutterstock[7]

Finally, it has been posited[8] that perhaps longevity is linked to how late into life an animal reproduces.

If they can keep reproducing later into life, then natural selection would drive this ability, generation to generation, allowing these animals to live longer than those that reproduce early and can’t continue to do so.

Indeed, we found animals that start producing offspring at a later age do seem to live longer lives. Sleepy lizards (or shinglebacks) are a great example. They don’t reproduce until they’re about five years old, and live until they’re close to 50!

Read more: Breakthrough allows scientists to determine the age of endangered native fish using DNA[9]

The challenge in understanding ageing

To understand ageing, we need a lot of data on the same animals. That’s simply because if we want to know how long a species lives, we have to keep catching the same individuals over and over, across large spans of time.

This is “longitudinal” research. Luckily, it’s exactly what some scientists have committed themselves to. It’s also what my team is doing with sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. These lizards have been studied continuously at Bundey Bore station in the Mid North of South Australia since 1982.

The sleepy lizard is one of the species used in the longevity study. As far as we know, this species lives up to 50 years. Mike Gardner

Here, more than 13,000 lizards have been caught over 40 years of study. Some have been caught up to 60 times! But given the 45-year longevity of these lizards, we’ve been studying them for a shorter time than some of them live. By keeping the survey work going we might find they live even longer.

Some animals’ chance of dying isn’t linked to age

Another interesting part of this research was finding, for a range of animals, that their chance of dying is just as small when they’re quite old compared to when they’re young. This “negligible ageing” is found in at least one species across each of frogs, salamanders, lizards, crocodiles and, of course, in tortoises like Jonathon.

We’re not quite sure why this is. The next challenge is to find out – perhaps by analysing species genomes. Knowing some animals have negligible ageing means we can target these species for future investigations.

Understanding what drives long life in other animals might lead to different biomedical targets to study humans too. We might not live to Jonathan the tortoise’s age, but we could theoretically use this knowledge to develop therapies that help stop some of the ageing process in us.

For now, healthy eating and exercising remain surer ways to a longer life.

Read more: The search to extend lifespan is gaining ground, but can we truly reverse the biology of ageing?[10]

A top view pair of sleepy lizards on the dirt, on seemingly hissing at the camera Sleepy lizards are a kind of blue-tongued skink, found only in Australia. Mike Gardner

References

  1. ^ Jonathan (www.smithsonianmag.com)
  2. ^ published today (www.science.org)
  3. ^ idea (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  4. ^ theory (academic.oup.com)
  5. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  6. ^ suggestion (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  7. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  8. ^ posited (journals.plos.org)
  9. ^ Breakthrough allows scientists to determine the age of endangered native fish using DNA (theconversation.com)
  10. ^ The search to extend lifespan is gaining ground, but can we truly reverse the biology of ageing? (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/we-helped-track-77-species-for-up-to-60-years-to-try-to-reveal-the-secrets-of-long-life-and-some-dont-seem-to-age-at-all-185583

The Times Features

Itinerary to Maximize Your Two-Week Adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia

Two weeks may not seem like much, but it’s just the right time for travelers to explore the best of Vietnam and Cambodia. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the magnificent te...

How to Protect Your Garden Trees from Wind Damage in Australia

In Australia's expansive landscape, garden trees hold noteworthy significance. They not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of our homes but also play an integral role in the local...

Brisbane Homeowners Warned: Non-Compliant Flexible Hoses Pose High Flood Risk

As a homeowner in Brisbane, when you think of the potential for flood damage to your home, you probably think of weather events. But you should know that there may be a tickin...

Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo: Nourish and Revitalize Your Hair

Are you ready to transform your hair from dull and lifeless to vibrant and full of life? Look no further than the luxurious embrace of Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo! In a...

Building A Strong Foundation For Any Structure

Building a home or commercial building can be very exciting. The possibilities are endless and the future is interesting. You can always change aspects of the building to meet the ...

The Role of a Family Dentist: Why Every Household Needs One

source A family dentist isn’t like your regular dentist who may specialise in a particular age group and whom you visit only when something goes wrong. A family dentist takes proa...

Times Magazine

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

How AI-Driven SEO Enhancements Can Improve Headless CMS Content Visibility

Whereas SEO (search engine optimization) is critical in the digital landscape for making connections to content, much of it is still done manually keyword research, metatags, final tweaks at publication requiring a human element that takes extensiv...

Crypto Expert John Fenga Reveals How Blockchain is Revolutionising Charity

One of the most persistent challenges in the charity sector is trust. Donors often wonder whether their contributions are being used effectively or if overhead costs consume a significant portion. Traditional fundraising methods can be opaque, with...

Navigating Parenting Arrangements in Australia: A Legal Guide for Parents

Understanding Parenting Arrangements in Australia. Child custody disputes are often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of separation or divorce. Parents naturally want what is best for their children, but the legal process of determining ...

Blocky Adventures: A Minecraft Movie Celebration for Your Wrist

The Minecraft movie is almost here—and it’s time to get excited! With the film set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025, fans have a brand-new reason to celebrate. To honor the upcoming blockbuster, watchfaces.co has released a special Minecraft-inspir...

The Ultimate Guide to Apple Watch Faces & Trending Wallpapers

In today’s digital world, personalization is everything. Your smartwatch isn’t just a timepiece—it’s an extension of your style. Thanks to innovative third-party developers, customizing your Apple Watch has reached new heights with stunning designs...

LayBy Shopping