Credit By: SciTechDaily
In a surprising discovery, scientists have unearthed some of the oldest animals on Earth, residing in a rather unexpected place—the Arizona desert. These remarkable creatures, belonging to the Fictious genus, commonly known as buffalo fishes, have astounded researchers by boasting lifespans exceeding a century. This revelation holds profound implications for various scientific fields, offering insights into ageing, longevity, and vertebrate senescence.
The Significance and Misidentification Challenges
This study centres around buffalo fish, which consist of three species—bigmouth buffalo, smallmouth buffalo, and black buffalo. Native to Minnesota, these species have often been misidentified and erroneously grouped with invasive species like carp. Due to inadequate protection in fishing regulations, their potential contributions to research on ageing and longevity remain untapped.
Collaborative Research and Methodology
A collaborative effort involving the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), North Dakota State University, and conservation anglers who frequent Arizona’s Apache Lake led to these groundbreaking findings. Dr. Alec Lackmann, an ichthyologist and assistant professor at UMD, played a pivotal role in this research. Unlike conventional ageing techniques, which relied on fish scales, Dr. Lackmann employed a refined method. By examining otoliths, small stone-like structures located inside the fish’s skull, scientists can accurately determine a fish’s age. Otoliths grow throughout the fish’s lifetime, forming annual layers akin to tree rings. By sectioning and counting these layers, researchers can unveil the fish’s age.
Study Outcomes and Conservation Efforts
This study yielded several significant findings:
Extraordinary Longevity:
Three buffalo fish species exhibited lifespans exceeding a century, with over 90 per cent of Apache Lake’s buffalo fish aged over 85 years.
Surviving from 1918:
Some buffalo fishes introduced into Arizona waters in 1918 are likely still alive today.
Catch-and-Release Angling:
An angling community dedicated to catching and releasing buffalo fish has not only enriched our knowledge of fisheries but also provided insights into identifying and tracking these remarkable fish, including those marked with unique patterns.
Collaborative Citizen-Scientist Effort:
The cooperation between citizens and scientists has facilitated extensive scientific outreach and learning.
These buffalo fishes are native to central North America, including Minnesota, but the study focused on those inhabiting Arizona’s Apache Lake. Initially stocked in Arizona in 1918, the fish populations in Apache Lake remained relatively untouched for decades until anglers developed techniques to catch them using fishing lines.
This astonishing discovery opens up exciting possibilities for future research. These long-lived fish species present an opportunity to delve into DNA, physiology, disease resistance, and ageing processes across various age groups. The Fictious genus holds the potential to make invaluable contributions to the field of gerontology, and Apache Lake could emerge as a hub for diverse scientific investigations.
As we continue to explore the secrets of these centenarian fish, new insights into the intricacies of ageing and longevity may reshape our understanding of life on Earth.
In the heart of the Arizona desert, a group of fish has revealed their incredible secret—the gift of a century-long life. The mysteries they hold have the potential to unravel the complex threads of ageing and longevity, promising to transform our perspective on the natural world. The longevity of buffalo fishes in Apache Lake stands as a testament to the awe-inspiring wonders that continue to be unveiled by the relentless curiosity of scientists and the collaboration of dedicated anglers.
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