These animals have been marking time largely unaware of all the ups and downs and intrigues of humanity. And stories about them often have more to do with the way people perceive them than the animals themselves.  Research: Butler, Paul G. et al. “Variability of marine climate on the North Icelandic Shelf in a 1357-year proxy archive based on growth increments in the bivalve Arctica islandica.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Volume 373, 2013. Pages 141-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.01.016. Barber, Elizabeth. “Scientists discover world's oldest clam, killing it in the process.” Christian Science Monitor. Nov. 15, 2013. https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1115/Scientists-discover-world-s-oldest-clam-killing-it-in-the-process Binns, Daniel. “Blungling Scientists Kill World’s Oldest Creature – a Clam – After 507 Years in Sea.” Metro UK. 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March 9, 2004. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/world/reigate-journal-parrot-may-have-been-churchill-s-but-she-s-not-saying.html Madden, Chris. “Having a chat with Churchill's parrot and - at 114-years-old - one of Reigate's oldest residents.” Surrey Live. Aug. 26, 2014. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/having-chat-churchills-parrot-114-13642592 Triesman, Rachel. “Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, marks his 190th with fanfare and salad cake.” NPR. Dec. 7, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/07/1141180557/jonathan-tortoise-birthday-190 “Unique Distinction.” The Daily Times. Nov. 18, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/303381370/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1 “Jonathan’s 190th” St. Helena Tourism. https://www.sthelenatourism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Jonathan-turns-190.pdf Larson, Samantha. “Oldest Clam Consternation Overblown.” National Geographic. 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Jan. 19, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3410893.stm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.