AnAge entry for Taeniopygia guttata

Classification (HAGRID: 00882)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Aves (Taxon entry)
            Order: Passeriformes
                Family: Estrildidae
                    Genus: Taeniopygia
Species: Taeniopygia guttata
Common name: Zebra finch

Maximum longevity: 12 years
Source: ref. 405
Sample size: Large
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: There have been few detailed studies of ageing in this species. Record longevity appears to be 12 years [0405]. That said, one specimen kept as a pet was at least 14.5 years of age when it died (website feedback), which is a plausible anecdote. Anecdotal reports also suggest these animals exhibit signs of ageing such as decreased activity with age as well as overgrown nails and beak, but more detailed studies are necessary. One study reported neuronal changes with age [0839].

[0869] Moe et al. (2009), Metabolic ageing in individual zebra finches (PubMed)
[0840] Pytte et al. (2007), Increasing stereotypy in adult zebra finch song correlates with a declining rate of adult neurogenesis (PubMed)
[0779] Haussmann et al. (2007), Telomerase activity is maintained throughout the lifespan of long-lived birds (PubMed)
[0739] Alonso-Alvarez et al. (2006), An experimental manipulation of life-history trajectories and resistance to oxidative stress (PubMed)
[0751] Haussmann et al. (2005), Cell-mediated immunosenescence in birds (PubMed)
[0432] Haussmann et al. (2004), Telomerase expression is differentially regulated in birds of differing life span (PubMed)
[0062] Holmes and Ottinger (2003), Birds as long-lived animal models for the study of aging (PubMed)
[0839] Wang et al. (2002), Vocal control neuron incorporation decreases with age in the adult zebra finch (PubMed)
[0405] Holmes and Austad (1995), Birds as animal models for the comparative biology of aging: a prospectus (PubMed)