The most long-lived animal is the jellyfish Turritopsis nutricula. It basically never dies. An immortal being in size is not so great — only 4 millimeters in diameter. The structure of the body of the jellyfish is characterized by the presence of tentacles, which she has about 90, a red stomach and a small umbrella. Why is this animal the most living thing? Because Turritopsis nutricula knows how to stay young all the time.
The development process of Turritopsis nutricula is unlike that of mammals and humans. It does not start with youth, and ends with aging, and Vice versa. This is due to the characteristics of the body of the jellyfish - its cells are able to be updated.
When the time comes, Turritopsis nutricula turns the body, squeezes the tentacles and starts dissolving the liquid skeleton. So the jellyfish returns to the state, which in animals of the same species is at the beginning of life. At this time, Turritopsis nutricula looks like a sexless polyp. We can say that the time clock seems to be reset, after which the jellyfish begins to grow and Mature again. The process of development of this animal is endless.
But the longest — living animals on Earth are not just jellyfish. There is another creature belonging to the same type of shooters. It also has a long life, but due to advanced regeneration. We are talking about Hydra. Its size is small - about 20 mm. the Unique feature of this animal is that it is able to restore the lost parts of the body. If you cut the Hydra in two, then two full Hydra will be restored from the halves.
For regeneration can be take a small cube, just 1 / 200 part of animal, to happened recovery. Thus the reproduction of this polyp. The name is taken from ancient Greek myths, which told about Hydra with a unique ability to recover. This most tenacious animal, unlike Turritopsis nutricula, lives in fresh water and leads a sedentary lifestyle. The question arises why the oceans are not covered with a layer of jellyfish, and rivers and lakes — a layer of Hydra? But nature has thought it through, even if the animal is characterized by longevity, it does not mean that it is immune to attacks by predators, the effects of weather conditions. And jellyfish, and Hydra is quite easy to kill, so in the waters of balance.
