X-Message-Number: 29010
From: "marta sandberg" <>
Subject: Fulmars, the bird that doesn't age
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:22:41 +0800

Can anyone help me?

About five years ago I read an article about a species of birds called 
fulmars that apparently did not grow old.  That doesn't mean that they 
didn't die.  Lots of things could kill them and as they lived in harsh 
condition in the Atlantic it frequently did.  A fulmar apparently had a 
fairly wide range of causes that was likely to polish it off, ranging from 
disease, starvation, predators to accidents, but old age wasn't one of those 
causes.  If a bird managed to avoid the deadly pitfalls of its environment 
it just kept on going and going and going and going.

I haven't heard anything more about the bird in the last five years and my 
(admittedly primitive)  net search hasn't turned up anything positive.  
Wikipedia says  They are long-lived, with a lifespan of 40 years not 
uncommon. 

Does anyone out there have any more information?  It would be great to be 
able to point to a warm-blooded animal that has circumvented ageing.  It 
would be proof in principle.

Anyone?

Thanks (I hope),

Marta

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