What animals tolerate the longest without drinking water? (Up to 20 years!)

According to the "rule of three", a person can live 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. But in the animal kingdom, some creatures have supernatural powers that enable them to live longer without the necessities of life. It's an adaptation that helps her survive in some of the harshest conditions in the world. In fact, some animals can live their lives without drinking water... Even if this is 20 years old!

11. Camel (15 days)

Are you surprised to know that when it comes to staying without water, camels don't even reach the top ten? Oh, you'll be amazed at what we have for you. But with all due respect to our thirsty camel friends, it has a unique water storage system. It stores fat in its humps that it uses for energy and hydration when water is scarce. Cams swell when they are full and begin to sag when fat stores are depleted. It's a very convenient way for camel riders to see how much "gas" their animals have left, and to start looking for the next oasis to fill!

10. Giraffe (21 days)

If you're crossing the desert riding an animal, a giraffe on the road will give you more a week than a camel. Giraffes can survive up to 21 days without drinking. Unlike camels, these animals do not have the means to store large amounts of water in their bodies. But they extract moisture from the plants that eat them, especially acacia leaves. Giraffes must space their front legs so that they can physically drink water. After a long drought, she can drink up to 14 gallons (54 liters) at once.

9. Desert Turtle (one year)

Desert turtles come in two main species that live in the deserts of Mojave and Sonoran. Inside her domed shell, she has an enlarged bladder that can store 40% of her body weight from water and effluent. It holds enough to help the turtle survive a drought of up to a year . . . Unless you feel afraid. Sudden fear can cause the desert turtle to urinate to extract all its water reserves. If this is a dry season and you can't replenish moisture, you may die quickly.

8. Jerboa (3 years)

The habitat of the jerboa is Eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia. It adapts greatly to desert conditions: it is able to survive extreme temperatures, it is able to jump very high to get away from predators and move quickly, and it has large ears that help it detect the slightest sound of an approaching predator. You get water from the plants and insects that heat it, and you spend their lives for a full 3 years without drinking liquid water.

7. Waterproof frog (5 years)

A frog that really holds water needs a way to hold it, and lives in the arid conditions of Australia's hinterland. He hydrates himself excessively by absorbing water through his skin. When things dry out, it digs underground and creates a cocoon of skin around itself to prevent water loss. Then he eats his skin slowly so that he does not feel very hungry. He could live 5 crazy years in this case!

6. Kangaroo rat (5 years old)

Despite their name, kangaroo rats have nothing to do with kangaroos, and are not found in Australia. They are small rodents native to the deserts of North America. It got its name from its impressive ability to jump long distances, using its tails to help it land. One of its adaptations to desert life is the presence of a group of kidneys that retain as much water as possible from the urine. They also don't sweat, but they do have oily coats to help keep them cool. With these types of adaptations, she can spend her entire life of 5 years without liquid water!

5. West African lung fish (5 years)

West African lung fish have survived on Earth for nearly 400 million years. It has gills for breathing underwater but can also extract oxygen from the air. When drying begins, they dig into the mud and envelop themselves in a mucous cocoon for protection. They can survive this way for up to five years, digesting their muscle tissue for nutrition.

4. Jarnouk (8 years old)

The first time you see a photo of the jarnoog, you may think that it has been modified by Photoshop. But these strange creatures that appear part antelope and part giraffe are real. It is endemic to the deserts and savannah of East Africa. Their long petioles help them reach the leaves from the upper branches, and detect danger from a distance. They retain water through the nasal passages that prevent moisture loss by evaporation. Their bodies retain water from their urine, making it highly concentrated. Don't move too much, and stand in place to show the scene. All this helps her keep her food moist and stay up to 8 years without drinking liquid water.

3. Couch frog (10 years)

Couch frogs live in the Colorado desert. They are growing at a rapid rate. Eggs hatch in two days. The legs of tadpoles grow within 10 days; by 3 months, they reach half their size by adulthood. In dry periods, these animals dig deep into a moist layer of sand and surround themselves with layers of partially fallen skin. With water retained this way, it can survive for up to 10 years without drinking water!

2. Arabian Sand Gazelle (14 years old)

Arabian sand gazelles are found in small numbers scattered in the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring areas. They live in the intense desert heat by shrinking their hearts and livers by up to 30%. These organs consume a lot of oxygen and make animals breathe more, losing moisture with each exhalation. With smaller hearts and livers, they breathe less and lose less water. By the way, this also helps reduce the amount of hot and dusty desert air you breathe, so it's profitable for these agile creatures.

1. The Prickly Devil (20 years old)

Zologists weren't really kind to Australia's thorny demon. As if this common name wasn't offensive enough, his Latin scientific name is Moloch horridus. Moluch was an ancient Canaanite god dedicated to the sacrifice of children. "Horridus" actually means "rough" or "coarse hair", but it can also mean "rude" or "terrible" yes, you guessed.

In fact, this small 21-centimeter lizard is only aggressive towards the ants it eats. Her mouth is specially adapted for eating ants, so much so that she cannot physically drink liquid water. Instead, dew droplets condense on their scales, and are absorbed from all over their body into the mouth through capillary action. When things are particularly dry, they can bury themselves in the sand to absorb any tiny amount of moisture that may be available. Since one of these little demons can live for 15-20 years, it is undoubtedly the winner, and it is the animal that can survive longer without drinking water.