These animals have been marking time largely unaware of all the ups and downs and intrigues of humanity. And stories about them often have more to do with the way people perceive them than the animals themselves. 

Research:

• Butler, Paul G. et al. “Variability of marine climate on the North Icelandic Shelf in a 1357-year proxy archive based on growth increments in the bivalve Arctica islandica.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Volume 373, 2013. Pages 141-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.01.016.
• Barber, Elizabeth. “Scientists discover world's oldest clam, killing it in the process.” Christian Science Monitor. Nov. 15, 2013. https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1115/Scientists-discover-world-s-oldest-clam-killing-it-in-the-process
• Binns, Daniel. “Blungling Scientists Kill World’s Oldest Creature – a Clam – After 507 Years in Sea.” Metro UK. Nov. 13, 2013. https://metro.co.uk/2013/11/13/bungling-scientists-kill-worlds-oldest-creature-a-clam-after-507-years-in-sea-4185580/
• Brix, Lise. “New record: World’s oldest animal is 507 years old.” Science Nordic. Nov. 6, 2013. https://sciencenordic.com/ageing-denmark-geochemistry/new-record-worlds-oldest-animal-is-507-years-old/1392743
• Free, Cathy. “The world’s oldest living land animal? At age 190, it’s Jonathan the tortoise.” The Washington Post. January 30, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/31/oldest-animal-tortoise-jonathan-/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/31/oldest-animal-tortoise-jonathan-/
• “Daughter Scotches Churchill Parrot Claim.” BBC. Jan. 21, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3417353.stm
• Elliot, Danielle. “Ming the Clam, World’s Oldest Animal, Was Actually 507 Years Old.” CBS News. Nov. 14, 2013. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ming-the-clam-worlds-oldest-animal-was-actually-507-years-old/
• Farrar, Steve. “Ming the Mollusk Holds Secret to Long Life.” The Times. October 28, 2007. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ming-the-mollusc-holds-secret-to-long-life-mfcvbtxl6gr
• Gamillo, Elizabeth. “At 190, Jonathan the Tortoise Is the World’s Oldest. Smithsonian. Feb. 4, 2022. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-190-jonathan-the-tortoise-is-the-worlds-oldest-living-land-animal-180979514/
• Holmes, Anna. “Meet Ming the Clam – the Oldest Animal in the World!” Amgueddfa Blog. Feb. 11, 2020. https://museum.wales/blog/2122/Meet-Ming-the-clam---the-oldest-animal-in-the-world/#:~:text=At%20507%20years%20the%20Ocean,together%20as%20a%20collective%20form.·       “In A Flap Over 'Churchill's' Old Bird.” SkyNews. Jan. 20, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20091204165346/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641119993
• Kolirin, Lianne. “Meet 190-year-old Jonathan, the world’s oldest-ever tortoise.” CNN. Jan. 26, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/oldest-tortoise-jonathan-scli-intl-scn/index.html
• “Historic Tortoise.” The Jersey Journal. June 28, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/image/908625184/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1
• “How are seashells made?” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/did-you-know/how-are-seashells-made
• “Jonathan at 140 Looks to the Future.” The Kansas City Times. Aug. 20, 1969. https://www.newspapers.com/image/675666450/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1
• Lyall, Sarah. “Reigate Journal; Parrot May Have Been Churchill's, but She's Not Saying.” New York Times. March 9, 2004. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/world/reigate-journal-parrot-may-have-been-churchill-s-but-she-s-not-saying.html
• Madden, Chris. “Having a chat with Churchill's parrot and - at 114-years-old - one of Reigate's oldest residents.” Surrey Live. Aug. 26, 2014. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/having-chat-churchills-parrot-114-13642592
• Triesman, Rachel. “Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, marks his 190th with fanfare and salad cake.” NPR. Dec. 7, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/07/1141180557/jonathan-tortoise-birthday-190
• “Unique Distinction.” The Daily Times. Nov. 18, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/303381370/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1
• “Jonathan’s 190th” St. Helena Tourism. https://www.sthelenatourism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Jonathan-turns-190.pdf
• Larson, Samantha. “Oldest Clam Consternation Overblown.” National Geographic. Nov. 17, 2013. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/131116-oldest-clam-dead-ming-science-ocean-507?loggedin=true&rnd=1690833236811
• “Ming the clam is oldest mollusc.” BBC. Oct. 28, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7066389.stm
• Morelle, Rebecca. “Clam-gate: The Epic Saga of Ming.” BBC. Nov. 14, 2013. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24946983
• Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “History of Saint Helena.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Helena-island-South-Atlantic-Ocean/History
• “RIP Ming the Clam.” The Daily Telegraph.” October 29, 2007. https://www.newspapers.com/image/753409282/?terms=ming%20quahog&match=1
• Roach, John. “405-year-old Clam Called Longest-lived Animal.” National Geographic. October 29, 2007. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/405-year-old-clam-called-longest-lived-animal
• “Winston’s Obscene Parrot Lives On.” BBC. Jan. 19, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3410893.stm