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You are here: Home / Blog / 11 Animals with Short Lifespans

11 Animals with Short Lifespans

In this blog post, we will discuss 11 different species of animals that have short life spans.

Some of them only live for a few days or weeks, while others may only survive for a year or two. But why do these animals have such short lives?

Let’s take a closer look at some of these fascinating creatures!

The duration of a creature’s life is determined by its habitat, size, food sources, and defensive skills, among other elements.

The insects on this list follow a lifecycle with several stages. In some cases, one stage of an insect’s life cycle is considerably longer than the previous.

List of Animals with Short Lifespans

  • Common Mouse – 2 Years
  • Mosquitofish – 18 months
  • Labord’s Chameleon – 12 months
  • Dwarf pygmy goby – 2 months
  • Mosquito – 60 days
  • Red fire ant – 45-60 days
  • Bee Drone – 48 days
  • Psocoptera – 30 days
  • House Fly – 28 days
  • Tsetse fly – 14 to 21 days
  • Mayfly – 24 hours

House Mouse

house-mouse-mice-crawling-in-basement-8338376

The house mouse is a small, brown grey rodent that is found all over the world. They have a lifespan of 2 years, which is relatively short compared to other mammals.

Mice are very adaptable creatures and can thrive in many different environments. They are a major source of food for many predators, including cats, dogs, and snakes.

Mosquitofish

easternmosquitofishjg_female-6518049

The mosquitofish is a small, freshwater fish that is found in the southern United States. It gets its name from its diet of mosquito larvae.

Mosquitofish have a lifespan of 18 months, which is shorter than most other fish species. However, they reproduce very quickly and can have up to 200 babies at a time!

Labord’s Chameleon

furcifer-labordi-3598396

The Labord’s chameleon is a small lizard that is found on the island of Madagascar. It is one of the shortest-lived reptiles, with an adult lifespan of only a few months.

F. Labordi, like all Furcifer species, has an annual lifecycle. It lives for a mere 4 to 5 months, making it the shortest lifespan of any four-legged vertebrate on record.

In their natural habitat, the eggs hatch in November as a result of the first rains, and their development is rapid. Adulthood is attained by January, after which they mate.

In late February or early March, females deposit the eggs that will hatch the next year, and the entire population dies until the following hatching. They are the world’s shortest-lived tetrapod

Dwarf Pygmy Goby

dwarf-pygmy-goby-1406649

The dwarf pygmy goby is a small fish that is found in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. It is one of the shortest-lived fish, with a lifespan of only two months.

Goby fish are very small, often less than an inch long. They are very good at camouflage and can be difficult to spot in their natural habitat.

Mosquito

The mosquito is a small, flying insect that is found all over the world. It is one of the shortest-lived insects, with a lifespan of only 60 days.

Mosquitoes are known for their annoying bites and their ability to spread diseases like malaria. They kill millions of people each year and are one of the deadliest animals to humans.

Red Fire Ant

fireant-9196872

The red fire ant is a small, reddish-brown insect that is found in the southern United States. It has a lifespan of 45-60 days, which is shorter than most other ants.

Red fire ants are known for their painful bites and their ability to build large nests. They are a major problem in the southern United States and can often be found in people’s yards.

Bee Drone

The bee drone is a small, winged insect that is found in beehives. It has a lifespan of only 48 days, which is shorter than most other bees.

Bee drones are male bees that do not have stingers. They live in the hive and their only purpose is to mate with the queen bee.

Psocoptera

psococeratis-gibbosa-the-large-british-species-credit-roger-key-e1641839642223-1600x0-c-default

The psocoptera, also known as Bark lice or Booklice, are small, wingless insects that are found in books. It has a lifespan of only 30 days, which is shorter than most other insects.

Psocoptera are small insects that feed on mold and fungus. They are often found in old books, which is where they get their name.

House Fly

housefly-6036665

The house fly is a small, winged insect that is found all over the world. It has a lifespan of only 28 days, which is shorter than most other insects.

House flies are known for their annoying habits, such as landing on food and rubbish. They can also spread diseases like typhoid and cholera.

Tsetse Fly

The tsetse fly is a small, winged insect that is found in Africa. It has a lifespan of only 14 to 21 days, which is shorter than most other insects.

Tsetse flies are known for their ability to spread diseases like sleeping sickness. They are a major problem in Africa and can often be seen near villages and towns.

Mayfly

mayfly

The mayfly is a small, winged insect that is found all over the world. It has a lifespan of only 24 hours, it is known for being one of the shortest living animals in the world.

Mayflies are known for their short lifespans and their ability to mate in mid-air. They are often seen near rivers and lakes, where they lay their eggs.

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