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. Another clam of the same species had been verified at 220 years old, and a third may have lived 374 years. But this most recent clam was the oldest yet. "Its death is an unfortunate aspect of this work, but we hope to derive lots of information from it," postdoctoral scientist Al Wanamaker told London's Guardian newspaper.

"For our work, it's a bonus, but it wasn't good for this particular animal."

View: Full Article | Source: Fox News

Seriously how do this people dare to kill an animal with so many years?!?!?!?!?! I mean who do this people think they are? For the sake of science?!?!?! This is NOT was science is about!!!!

They call themselves sciencetists but they cannot even keep an animal alive... my goodness no wonder people say the world is doomed....

Uh...what? Where'd your outburst come from?

Okay from what I understand, they were fishing for clams to research. Apparently that research entails dissecting them like frogs. And this one happend to be a very special clam.

Now excuse me my warped mind while I say how unfair it is that they can kill other clams because they were young yet feel remorse for killing one so old.

I think what Alex01 ment is that no animal should be killed for the "good" of science, and in this case it is even more wrong.

Anyway, if we talk about animal outrage, we should better focus on all those poor animals that died for research and science experiments...

Ah, I get it now. It just felt weird because they're talking about clams. And how often are people enraged about clams?

The trouble is that it depends on which animal sometimes. Rats are practically bred for science labs and frogs are caught. Since the purpose most of the time is to check certain chemical reactions to humans you could say it would be more correct to use it on a human.

Guys.... this was a CLAM. It was an old clam - nothing other than that. It's sad, but in the end, it's just an old clam.... Calm down.

Does it matter how small or large it may be to find sadness or outrage in an unnatural death? Indeed, it was just a clam. But I can see the reason for being upset. Life is a precious gift, no matter how insignificant we may find it to be for certain creatures. Granted, I highly doubt there are many people who think like this.

Who cares we're gonna kill off most of everything anyway ..

Just enjoy the ride.

No one would have known how old this clam was unless it was diesected. Sad but not to sad, think of it as euthanasia. it was old and probably on it's last legs, or tongue or wisker ehhh well at least we know how old they can get befor becoming clam chowder, ewwww 400 year old clam in your bowl

Humans killing yet another discovery of animals. Wouldn't be surprised xD

But how would they know if it was that old until they killed it? It's half good and half bad I suppose.

WWED

It was probably actually humane. Afterall, it would be far more susceptible to certain painful diseases. But still how cruel! I mean, if you were in that clam's position, would you want to be killed off just for the sake to find out your age?!

Had the clam lived though, would they have let it go? A 400-year old clam. Given how much people eat clams, nobody really expects them to be that old like turtles. I can see that clam being put in a museum. Or somewhere yet being researched on. Fat chance of them actually returning the clam whence it came from.

And what about the rest of the ones who were drawn up and killed simply because they weren't as old. Stupid if you ask me. The young ones bite the dust and the older ones get to live on just so people can see, quite literally, the oldest clam ever.






...days like this I can't believe I'm sympathizing with CLAMS of all things...

Yes, it's because they found out about this clam before you did. Now that you know, I guess it's time to walk around the streets with a cardboard sign duct taped on yourself warning others whom are less informed.

The end is near!!! *waves hands around for scary effect*

Aside from the horrible fact that scientists would dare kill a clam ... It's kind of crazy when you think about the fact that this clam was alive in the early 1600's. Think about how much the world has changed in the last 400 years. It's not as though the clam could observe the changes, or even think for that matter, but it's still an interesting prospect.

Typical. Go humanity, go!

The scientists didn't know of the clams age whilst it was still alive, they cut it open to count its age rings, which probabally resulted in its death.

What about clam chowder? We eat clams. We eat living things. Thats life.

I hope nobody was planning to eat this clam...

mmm, vintage

I think everyone should just clam down.

I totally agree All life is precious . & I'd like to see the people that claim they 'only' killed a clam to live for more than 400 years ! & it's not the first time I've heard of something like this happening with so called 'scientists' . Finding some very rare or old species & ending up killing it , when they capture it & keep it in captivity

Actually, yes it does matter how small or large an animal is. I doubt you feel remorse for the lives you kill in order to eat. Do you feel remorse for the hundred year old trees that probably went into that paper you wrote on today? How about the 1 day old ant you stepped on as you walked down the street?

The fact is, killing just to kill is wrong, of course. But these things died in the hopes that they may teach us something. As a matter of fact, it already taught me something - I didn't know clams lived that long before today. So the death of this guy has already allowed me to learn something new about the world around me, that I wouldn't have know if it had lived.

......or clam up?

If I was a clam I wouldn't have the brain power to care...

.......

No comment....




Ok ok ok..... I lost my temper a bit.......... Actually I think a more elaborate way should be elaborated to study animals so that they are not killed ( and that includes all animals). But my word isn't going to change anything....

Anyways animals killed for science is a minimal compared to other actions wich are not beneficial to animal life on Earth in any way.

Still it's a shame the clam died..... but thankfully it was clearly a mistake, if the scientists would have known it's age before I'm sure they would have not killed it.


*Cough* Weird...

.....No comment.....

It's a shame the clam had to die, but perhaps the scientists will be able to study it's shell/outer appearances more thoroughly so other ancient clams don't have the same fate...like trees Besides, just think of the thousands of clams that are dredged up for our plates everyday from the oceans.

When will the clams stop screaming, Clarice?

You'd have thought they'd be able to take a core sample of the shell, or something, rather than just lop them in half.

Unless, of course, they're researching zombie clams. Or Clam Duct tape. Or something, that for some strange reason involved dead sliced clams.

"Silence of the Clams"


Top drawer stuff Ghost It!!!

On the serious side. It's a shame the clam was killed, however it was no worse a death, as others have said, than other clams which have been caught for consumption purposes. Perhaps the outrage expressed here is simply because the animal was so old?

I suppose there was no way they could've known... Very unfortunate, though. My condolences.

TeraLink Was Here!

Rest In Peace old and wise clam.

They could have just asked the clam its age.
amarite guyz??/

I hope they made a tasty chowder with it. Yum.

Oh man, I cant believe this thread. Clams don't have a brain, let alone fear of death. For all we know there could be thousands of Clams that were never discovered that were older than this one.

It's not the first time scientists have killed an old living thing to find out its age. Infact they killed the oldest living thing ever, a 4862 year old pine tree, which is about as old as Judaism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_%28tree%29

It is quite humorous lol. But it is good that you see both sides.

i think id almost want to die if i sat at the bottom of the ocean for 400 years with no one to talk to, stupid scientists, scitentists arent very good at stuff, eg Attempting to prove ghosts arnt real, explaining sleep apralysis, the can never explain why it happens in certain rooms or why people always see something evil and feel negative vibes, this is just another thing to add to their list of stuff they do wrong.

Shouldnt believers be trying to prove that they are real?

And what do ghosts have to do with clams?

I agree, but I don't think any animal should die for other species gain.
The oldest living animal species is a clam, in fact it may be this specific type of clam.

eh maybe it could ::shrugs:: if u ask me id be glad to be killed to be that old and seen everything igh!! lol

hahhaaa! i read this story on another website-i knew the title would freak ppl. out

i feel bad for the poor clam-but what we have to worry about now is retaliation. i heard that it was the king of the clams that was caught, and all his clam servants are preparing for a full scale attack.
the president has already ordered a preemptive strike on the portion of the ocean the clam was raised from...
-this is it ppl.! get the butter and hammers ready,it might get ugly!

(clam)How dare you ask! I wouldn't give you my age, I'd just clam up.


Btw, I never knew you can tell the age of a clam until now...

Seriously the answer to that question is obvious mate.


The ghost of the clam of course.

Bad joke, I know........

you see thats the problem, because science cant explain how something happens in the paranormal in general it automatically doesnt exist, if a scientist came out and actually proved that all the paranormal stuff was real then skeptics would still not believe it because they are just too skeptic lol. either way in the future though there will be no skeptics, mostly because someone in their family or them will expirience paranormal activity.

the ghosts was just a comparison of what science has failed to prove so far.

Cant explain yet. But there are theories about ghosts and hauntings, and you do more harm than good by jumping to conclusions, that just because you see something, that its really there and that its the spirit of a dead person. I'm sure we've all halucinated or seen optical illusions before.

How are they going to prove all the "paranormal stuff" real? They've tried and proved most of it false already. Take John Edward and all the other mediums, faith healers and psychics. Every one that has been tested has failed. There's no evidence for UFOs, ghosts or bigfoot. You need to stop demonizing skeptics and understand why they are skeptical about all this crap.

And I've had experiences with halucination and what could be described as a ghost sighting, but I dont assume it was a ghost, because I'm sure there's a logical explaination to it.

'It's not the first time scientists have killed an old living thing to find out its age. Infact they killed the oldest living thing ever, a 4862 year old pine tree, which is about as old as Judaism.'

Bloody hell, now that is old!!
I never knew clams could grow so old, I only thought 200years, i didn't know they had rings, and I didn't know scientists go looking for their ages. Man I feel dumb here.... lol

For me it's simple: If scientists have to kill 10.000 monkeys to cure cancer one day sooner they should go right ahead.
But hey that's me.

Seriously though: they are talking about clams.. Any idea hoe many clams are being eaten, not just by humans on a daily basis?
More than one. And that's not including oysters, scallops or mussels (yum!).