Glass Sponge

The glass sponge (class Hexactinellida) ranks among Earth's longest-living animals, with some species estimated to live over 10,000 years. These deep-sea creatures grow intricate silica-based skeletons resembling delicate glass sculptures, hence their name. Found in cold ocean waters, their extremely slow metabolism contributes to their remarkable longevity. Glass sponges form massive reef structures that provide marine habitats, with individual sponges growing continuously for millennia. Their ability to thrive in nutrient-scarce environments while maintaining biological functions for thousands of years offers scientists valuable insights into aging processes and extreme lifespan potential in the animal kingdom.