factoid of the day... i'm sure vyoma already knows this

[symbioidlj]

CLAIM: Turtles never die of old age.
ANSWER: TRUE. Turtles exhibit what is known as 'negligible senescence.' In other words, unlike humans, they do not continue to age once their bodies reach maturity. In theory, they might be able to live forever, though in practice this would never happen. Injury, predation, or disease eventually kill them. But turtles have been known to live beyond 150 years without exhibiting any signs of old age. Fish and amphibians also share this enviable characteristic.

Comments

[vyoma.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that about turtles! I did know it about, of all things, jellyfish and sea anemones. They're theoretically immortal; one sea anemone was kept alive in an aquarium for nearly 200 years.

I kinda figured it would be the case of any sort of critter capable of extensive regeneration (meaning that the thing keeps an extensive reserve of totipotent cells on hand at all times), but I hadn't figured on it extending all the way up to a reptile... especially considering that turtles, AFAIK, don't have much regenerative capability.