It’s no secret that some animals on Earth live longer than many humans do. A parrot in captivity can live over 80 years, the giant tortoise can reach 100 years old or more, and the oldest known bowhead whale lived for at least 211 years. But one tiny ancient creature beats them all, surviving an estimated 11,000 years in its frigid habitat under the sea.

Scientists estimate an individual deep sea sponge belonging to the species Monorhaphis chuni has lived at least 11,000 years,…