The World's Oldest Aquarium Fish Passes at 90

Anyone who has ever kept aquarium fish knows that their lifespan isn't particularly long. Some species are more resilient than others, but sooner or later you'll have to remove a few deceased fish from the water. However, the caretakers of 'Granddad'—a lungfish that lived for many decades at the tourist-favorite Shedd Aquarium in Chicago—had grown so accustomed to him, it was as if they hoped he'd live forever.

Granddad arrived at the Chicago aquarium in 1933 from his native river in Australia. Over one hundred million people have visited his exhibit since. Tests conducted when he first arrived at the aquarium revealed he was over ten years old, so his age at death was undoubtedly over ninety.

Lungfish, an endangered species living in Australian rivers, are so named because they are one of the few animal species capable of breathing air—they have a single, rather 'primitive' lung. Although it's known that in the wild they can live over a hundred years, this is likely the first instance of a lungfish living to such an old age in captivity.

Shedd Aquarium president, Bridget Caplin, gave a heartfelt farewell to Granddad: "Considering he was a fish who spent most of his time pretending to be nothing more than a log, he inspired curiosity, excitement, and wonder among visitors of all ages who heard his story and learned about the remarkable biology of his kind."