X-Message-Number: 29013
From: 
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:08:14 EST
Subject: Re: Fulmars, the bird that doesn't age 

Marta and all:
 
I have often read of fish that don't age (carp) though they are subject to  
death from accidental causes etc. The definition of aging used is the 

increasing  probability of death with advancing years -- one in a hundred per 
year at 
25,  one in 50 at 32, twice that seven years later and so on. (I don't know 

that  actual probabilities but for humans it does double every 7-8 years.)  But
not carp -- it stays about the same no matter how old they get.  And they  
just get bigger and bigger.
 
So I think to prove Fulmars don't age you need their mortality VS age  
figures.
 
Alan
 
 
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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