Did you know that these amazing creatures can live up to two hundred years?
Residents of the World Ocean, sea urchins, have come closer to the dream of immortality that humans long for. The oldest among them can reach an age of about 200 years.
According to research by biologists from the University of Oregon, these creatures are virtually immune to aging. Individuals that live to be 100 years old have a quality of life that is no different from that of their ten-year-old relatives: record-holders can reproduce as successfully as the young ones. The longevity of sea urchins is limited not by aging, but by threats from fishermen and predators such as lobsters, crabs, and sea otters.
To begin their long life, most sea urchins have to practically turn inside out. Their larvae, resembling translucent umbrellas, float in ocean waters for several months. During this period, primarily the left side of their capsule develops. The embryo is essentially pushed out on the body of the larva, turning the transparent cover inside out, which leads to a complete reorientation of the internal organs.
Moreover, these creatures never stop growing.
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