Content
- 1. The Gastrotricha queue
- 2. The Mayflies
- 3. Flies
- 4. worker bees
- 5. The artemias
- 6. Monarch butterflies
- 7. The possums
- 8. The ants
- 9. The labord's chameleon
- 10. Dragonflies
Life expectancy is defined as the entire life of an animal from birth to death. There are animals that can live for many decades and others that only live days and have a short life expectancy.
Life seems long but it is short for all creatures on the planet, especially for a group of animals that go through their life cycle with great intensity, going through all the processes that involve being born, reproducing and dying in a very short time. . They are experts in synthesizing your moment on earth.
The animal world surprises us every day, so check it out the 10 animals with the shortest lifespan in this article by Animal Expert.
1. The Gastrotricha queue
The record of one of the lowest life expectancies belongs to a group of microscopic animals worm-like called phylum gastrotricha. It's surprising! The entire life cycle of these aquatic microorganisms lasts between three and four days.
While there are many varieties, none surpasses this goal, even in the most ideal circumstances. They spend their short life floating, eating and reproducing (for some of them it means a change of genes with another individual). However, many species reproduce by parthenogenesis, in which the offspring is a genetic copy of the adult animal. One dies and it's like having a clone child.
2. The Mayflies
Also known as mayflies, mayflies belong to the pterygota insects. This animal is among the creatures with the shortest lifespan.
The most interesting thing about this animal is that when it is young and remains in its cocoon, it can come to live up to one year, however when it reaches adulthood it can die in a matter of a day or less.
3. Flies
THE life of the flies it's really fleeting compared to hundreds of other creatures in the animal kingdom. In a house they are more likely to feed themselves and therefore survive.
The specimens found in nature are not so lucky and have a shorter life expectancy. Overall, your life expectancy is between 15 and 30 days. Flies can be found in virtually all parts of the world, they are the most popular species on Planet Earth and one of the least living as well.
4. worker bees
Bees, working soldiers, live a short but very intense life that lasts approximately one month. They come to fulfill their mission and leave. What's really interesting is that these bees are all female and have a strenuous and short life, while the queen bee is dedicated to ordering, laying eggs and living. up to four years.
Bees go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life expectancy of an entire bee community or hive depends on the survival of a good number of bee specimens in it. It doesn't work to live only the queen, as she cannot produce honey or pollinate the flowers and needs her workers for the hive's sustenance.
5. The artemias
Artemia are one of the 10 animals with the shortest lifespan. These little aquatic beings can live up to two years and reach about two centimeters in length.
Many people raise them at home with salt water and feed them with yeast and green algae. When they are born, brine shrimp are of a minimal size, almost microscopic, so when they are born they are even difficult to see and you should wait around 24 hours to see them swim.
6. Monarch butterflies
These beautiful creatures don't decorate nature for a long time, as they just accompany us. from 1 to 6 weeks, depending on many factors such as species, size, climate, food and habitat conditions.
Although most of them die very young, their role in nature is fundamental, they are part of the pollination process of flowers and are also the favorite food of other animal species.
7. The possums
Opossums that are not in captivity and live in the wild have a short life expectancy of one and a half year, because in their natural state they are not protected from any danger from predators, as well as the radical change of weather and the loss of their habitat.
These marsupial mammals originating from the American continent are very smart and creative when it comes to surviving. To deter and defend against mortal enemies, they pretend they are already dead.
8. The ants
And we return to insects within this list of the 10 animals with the shortest lifespan. while queens can live over 30 years, the working class tends to be the one that says farewell to the planet faster.
These humble and self-sacrificing workers live little more than a month, and that without thinking about the life expectancy they have when human beings are present. the ants are very sociable and collaborative. They are also very strong, they can lift up to 50 times their own weight.
9. The labord's chameleon
This curious reptile that can only be found on the island of Madagascar lives only one year, its life cycle is quite difficult. The species is born every November and the young mature sexually between January or February, when the mating phase begins. Before the next generation is ready to hatch (open or break an egg at hatch), the following November, the entire adult population dies.
10. Dragonflies
How we love dragonflies! They are a great inspiration for tattoos and jewelry among many other representations, however they are one of the animals with the shortest lifespan.
Many people think that dragonflies only live one day, but this is a myth. Adult dragonflies are very delicate and can live up to 6 monthss. Fortunately, today, there are still more than 5000 species of dragonflies on Planet Earth, spreading their great wings through the air.
