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Scientists Find Oldest Living Animal, Then Kill It

Discussion in 'Whatnots' started by Taluntain, Oct 31, 2007.

  1. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    [​IMG] British marine biologists have found what may be the oldest living animal — that is, until they killed it.

    The team from Bangor University in Wales was dredging the waters north of Iceland as part of routine research when the unfortunate specimen, belonging to the clam species Arctica islandica, commonly known as the ocean quahog, was hauled up from waters 250 feet deep.

    Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings did they realize how old it had been — between 405 and 410 years old.

    (More.)

    Can you say :doh: ?
     
    Taluntain, Oct 31, 2007
    #1

  2. Goli Ironhead Gems: 16/31
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    Hmmh... They don't seem too sorry about it.
     
    Goli Ironhead, Oct 31, 2007
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  3. Kitrax

    Kitrax Pantaloons are supposed to go where!?!?

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    Geeze...that's one old clam. I wonder if it had a pearl in it... :money:

    However, I'm sure there are more of a similar age at the bottom of the ocean. If one can live that long, surely others can too. :rolling:
     
    Kitrax, Oct 31, 2007
    #3
  4. Dice

    Dice ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    It kind of makes me wonder what is the point of living that long....if you have the brain of a clam.
     
    Dice, Oct 31, 2007
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  5. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    The answer to that is, of course, that there is no point to living. Only to live is the point.
     
    henkie, Oct 31, 2007
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  6. Barmy Army

    Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

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    It's a bloody clam. Are they even sentient? I didn't know they classed as animals anyway!!!
     
    Barmy Army, Oct 31, 2007
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  7. Dalveen

    Dalveen Rimmer gone Bald Veteran

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    An Organism does not need to be sentient to be classed as an Animal. Anyway, define sentience? The clam can move from one area to the next depending on food levels, environmental conditions etc... Does that count as being sentient?
     
    Dalveen, Nov 1, 2007
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  8. Dice

    Dice ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    I wonder if it would be chewy if you ate it... I mean chewier than your average clam.
     
    Dice, Nov 2, 2007
    #8
  9. Kitrax

    Kitrax Pantaloons are supposed to go where!?!?

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    You know...it would kind of be sad if they *didn't* eat the thing after killing it. :bad: :rolling:
     
    Kitrax, Nov 2, 2007
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  10. The Magister Gems: 26/31
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    Oh SNAP. That'd make you feel guilty :rolleyes:
     
    The Magister, Nov 2, 2007
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  11. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Wow, that clam was alive in 1600 AD? Awesome!
     
    Harbourboy, Nov 2, 2007
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  12. kuemper Gems: 31/31
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    How Pythonesque. Relevant ad: Quahog Clam - creative cooking, better baking. :lol:
     
    kuemper, Nov 2, 2007
    #12
  13. Arahar

    Arahar Hmm, it's a dwarf. Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    That is so funny
     
    Arahar, Nov 3, 2007
    #13
  14. Splunge

    Splunge Bhaal’s financial advisor Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    [​IMG]
    Ah yes, I remember that clam back when it was just a pup. I released it and said to it "Live long and prosper, and then die an insignificant death". Apparently someone overheard the first part, and took it out of context.
     
    Splunge, Nov 3, 2007
    #14
  15. Montresor

    Montresor Mostly Harmless Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    I think they opened the clam not to count the year rings but to study their thickness etc. in order to find out how conditions in the oceans had changed over the years, much like tree rings show historical information about weather conditions from year to year.

    The information gathered from rings in trees have given scientists a very good picture of how atmospheric conditions have changed over the last few thousand years, and they can tell more or less exactly where and when a particular tree grew. For example, by studying the rings in tree used to build one of the Viking ships in Roskilde, Denmark, scientists have found that the ship was built from trees felled near Dublin, Ireland in 1042! :eek:
     
    Montresor, Nov 3, 2007
    #15
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