AnAge entry for Arctica islandica

Arctica islandica is a species with negligible senescence

Classification (HAGRID: 04221)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Mollusca
        Class: Bivalvia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Veneroida
                Family: Arcticidae
                    Genus: Arctica
Species: Arctica islandica
Common name: Ocean quahog clam
Synonyms: Cyprina islandica

IMR: Not yet available
MRDT: No MRDT detected
Maximum longevity: 400 years (wild)
Source: ref. 829
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: These animals show exceptional longevity and have been estimated to live up to 400 years in the wild. One study found that in animals aged 4-192 years, antioxidant enzymes declined rapidly in the first 25 years, which includes the growth and sexual maturity stages, but afterwards remained stable for over 150 years [0829]. Though more detailed studies are warranted, it appears this species is a case of negligible senescence.

No information on metabolism is available.

[0893] Ungvari et al. (2011), Extreme longevity is associated with increased resistance to oxidative stress in Arctica islandica, the longest-living non-colonial animal, PubMed
[0829] Abele et al. (2008), Imperceptible senescence: Ageing in the ocean quahog Arctica islandica, PubMed
[0014] Leonard Hayflick (1994), How and Why We Age
[0002] Caleb Finch (1990), Longevity, Senescence, and the Genome
[0593] MarLIN - Marine Life Information Network