This is a list of maximum recorded animal lifespans in captivity. Only animals from the classes of the Chordata phylum are included. [1] On average, captive animals (especially mammals) live longer than wild animals. This may be due to the fact that zoos provide refuge against diseases, competition with others of the same species and predators. Most notably, animals with shorter lifespans and faster growth rates benefit more from zoos than animals with higher longevities and slow growth rates. [2]
Family | Name | Binomial name | Image | Maximum lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alligatoridae | American alligator | Alligator mississippiensis | 87 years [3] [4] | |
Cathartidae | Andean condor | Vultur gryphus | 80 years [5] | |
Elephantidae | Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | 79.6 years [6] | |
Corvidae | Common raven | Corvus corax | 69 years [7] | |
Hominidae | Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | 68 years [8] | |
Elephantidae | African bush elephant | Loxodonta africana | 65 years [9] | |
Hippopotamidae | Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | 61.2 years [10] | |
Crocodylidae | Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | 56 years [11] | |
Struthionidae | Ostrich | Struthio | 50 years [12] | |
Accipitridae | Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 48 years [13] | |
Rhinocerotidae | White rhinoceros | Ceratotherium simum | 45 years [14] | |
Anatidae | Canada goose | Branta canadensis | 42 years [15] | |
Boidae | Boa constrictor | Boa constrictor | 40.4 years [16] | |
Ursidae | Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | 40 years [17] | |
Giraffidae | Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis | 39.5 years [18] | |
Columbidae | Rock dove | Columba livia | 35 years [19] | |
Bovidae | African buffalo | Syncerus caffer | 32.8 years [20] | |
Camelidae | Dromedary camel | Camelus dromedarius | 28.4 years [21] | |
Felidae | Jaguar | Panthera onca | 28 years [22] | |
Felidae | Lion | Panthera leo | 28 years [23] | |
Felidae | Cougar | Puma concolor | 27 years [24] | |
Bovidae | Fallow deer | Cervus dama | 27 years [25] | |
Felidae | Tiger | Panthera tigris | 26.3 years [26] | |
Bovidae | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra | 23.9 years [27] | |
Castoridae | American beaver | Castor canadensis | 23.4 years [28] | |
Bovidae | Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus | 22 years [29] | |
Canidae | Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | 21.3 years [30] | |
Canidae | Grey wolf | Canis lupus | 20.6 years [31] | |
Mustelidae | Giant otter | Pteronura brasiliensis | 17.3 years [32] | |
Bovidae | Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | 15.5 years [33] |
This is a list of maximum recorded animal lifespans in captivity. Only animals from the classes of the Chordata phylum are included. [1] On average, captive animals (especially mammals) live longer than wild animals. This may be due to the fact that zoos provide refuge against diseases, competition with others of the same species and predators. Most notably, animals with shorter lifespans and faster growth rates benefit more from zoos than animals with higher longevities and slow growth rates. [2]
Family | Name | Binomial name | Image | Maximum lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alligatoridae | American alligator | Alligator mississippiensis | 87 years [3] [4] | |
Cathartidae | Andean condor | Vultur gryphus | 80 years [5] | |
Elephantidae | Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | 79.6 years [6] | |
Corvidae | Common raven | Corvus corax | 69 years [7] | |
Hominidae | Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | 68 years [8] | |
Elephantidae | African bush elephant | Loxodonta africana | 65 years [9] | |
Hippopotamidae | Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | 61.2 years [10] | |
Crocodylidae | Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | 56 years [11] | |
Struthionidae | Ostrich | Struthio | 50 years [12] | |
Accipitridae | Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 48 years [13] | |
Rhinocerotidae | White rhinoceros | Ceratotherium simum | 45 years [14] | |
Anatidae | Canada goose | Branta canadensis | 42 years [15] | |
Boidae | Boa constrictor | Boa constrictor | 40.4 years [16] | |
Ursidae | Grizzly bear | Ursus arctos horribilis | 40 years [17] | |
Giraffidae | Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis | 39.5 years [18] | |
Columbidae | Rock dove | Columba livia | 35 years [19] | |
Bovidae | African buffalo | Syncerus caffer | 32.8 years [20] | |
Camelidae | Dromedary camel | Camelus dromedarius | 28.4 years [21] | |
Felidae | Jaguar | Panthera onca | 28 years [22] | |
Felidae | Lion | Panthera leo | 28 years [23] | |
Felidae | Cougar | Puma concolor | 27 years [24] | |
Bovidae | Fallow deer | Cervus dama | 27 years [25] | |
Felidae | Tiger | Panthera tigris | 26.3 years [26] | |
Bovidae | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra | 23.9 years [27] | |
Castoridae | American beaver | Castor canadensis | 23.4 years [28] | |
Bovidae | Mule deer | Odocoileus hemionus | 22 years [29] | |
Canidae | Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | 21.3 years [30] | |
Canidae | Grey wolf | Canis lupus | 20.6 years [31] | |
Mustelidae | Giant otter | Pteronura brasiliensis | 17.3 years [32] | |
Bovidae | Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | 15.5 years [33] |