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World’s oldest living crocodile celebrates 124th birthday

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World’s oldest living crocodile celebrates 124th birthday

Henry, considered the oldest living crocodile, was born in 1900 and is the father of over 10,000 offspring, the result of mating with numerous females. He’s thought to be one of the oldest ever documented.

He resides in South Africa at a wildlife conservation center on private land, sharing his habitat with six female crocodiles. Recently, Henry celebrated his 124th birthday and, despite his advanced age, his health is remarkably good. It appears the aging process hasn’t impacted him as it does other animals of his age.

A slow metabolism, continuous growth throughout his life and physiological traits like being cold-blooded enable Henry to conserve energy and regulate his body temperature. Crocodiles, like some other reptiles, continue to grow as they age. Henry has already reached a weight of around 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) and a length of about 5 meters (16.4 feet) — and is still growing.

A new study revealed that whales can live far longer than previously thought, well beyond the average whale lifespan of 50–70 years, giving the old crocodile possible competition.

The southern right whale, one of the baleen whale species — a subgroup of toothless whales — can live over 100 years. According to scientists, 10% of them may reach ages between 130 and 150 years. This is in stark contrast to other whales, such as those in the North Atlantic Ocean, which have an average lifespan of only 22 years.

Previous studies have shown that the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) can also live over 100 years, adding to recent discoveries about exceptionally long lifespans among very large animals. Understanding their longevity is crucial for protecting these species, many of which are endangered.

Finally, fossils in Utah have revealed a mysterious plant from 47 million years ago, unlike any known plant today. Initially, scientists thought it was related to ginseng, a perennial plant from the ivy family but further research showed it belonged to an entirely separate, now-extinct family.

Using advanced microscopes, researchers identified unique traits in the plant not found in modern plants, such as retaining stamens (the male reproductive parts) even in mature fruit. This phenomenon doesn’t exist today, as stamens typically shed during fruit development.

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הצמח המאובן

Fossilized plant analyzed by researchers

(Photo: Florida Museum of Natural History/Jeff Gage)

This discovery, among others, allowed scientists to explore previously unknown processes, hinting at peculiar and unique reproductive mechanisms.

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