The Top Ten Longest Living Animals.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Other than the whale, they are also all cold-blooded creatures. I'm guessing that the need to burn energy constantly to stay warm is not as good for longevity as the ability to conserve energy by being cold-blooded.

[shrimpchips]

Actually, stuff can die from old age without cancer you know

This might be among the "longest" living animals:

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Ribbon worms (Nemertea)
The largest nemertean and possibly the longest animal is the bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus. A specimen found washed ashore on a beach in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1864 was recorded at a length of 55 m (180 ft).

[Seamazter]

Originally Posted by shrimpchips

This might be among the "longest" living animals:

Nice one.

[justinl]

for the record, sharks can get cancer. It has been documented in captivity. Also, while old age increases likelyhood of getting cancer, cancer isn't the cause; it's a symptom. decreased immune functionality, deteriorating muscle mass, shortening telomeres, decreased metabolism, worn out joints etc etc are all results of old age.

[Funky_Fish14]

To add another one that is pretty interesting... The Greenland Shark. Not only is it's lifespan impressive, but its slow rate of growth (indicating possible long life span, going with the afforementioned trend).

Scientists have suggested it can live up to 200, even 400 years. It was on 'dirty jobs' once, and the researcher suggested they could live for 200-400 years IIRC.

Couple links:

http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/sha.../greenland.htm
http://www.examiner.com/x-4002-Green...d-for-dog-food

Interesting stuff, all the ones previously listed!

[chilumba]

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

I thought I recall reading in the Guiness book of World Records about 35 years ago that some variety of pine in the California mountains lived something like 6000 years but Wikipedia says more like 5000 years.

They are called britslecone pines.

[Ian]

Went whale watching this summer and got to see the oldest recorded orca at just over 100 years old (can't remember her exact age). She is still going strong .