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A new study shows that coelacanths are long-lived and have the longest gestation period of any known animal.
The previous estimate was a lifespan of 20 years, which this study corrects to a century. The estimated gestation period is five years. The previous record-holder was the frilled shark, with a gestation period of about three and a half years; the mammal with the longest gestation period is the elephant, which carries its young for two years.
These are all estimates based on museum specimens (as was the previous number), but the new values fit better with what's known about other fish that live in similar habitats.
The previous estimate was a lifespan of 20 years, which this study corrects to a century. The estimated gestation period is five years. The previous record-holder was the frilled shark, with a gestation period of about three and a half years; the mammal with the longest gestation period is the elephant, which carries its young for two years.
These are all estimates based on museum specimens (as was the previous number), but the new values fit better with what's known about other fish that live in similar habitats.
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Fascinating stuff!
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wold say more but time
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*stops almost immediately*