Ming is the nickname given to a specimen of an ocean quahog clam, Arctica islandica, family Veneridae, and is the oldest living animal ever discovered.[1][2]
Judging by the annual growth rings on the clam's shell, Ming was believed to be in the region of 405–410 years old when the clam was caught off the coast of Iceland in October 2007. The claim was made by researchers at Bangor University, including Dr. Alan Wanamaker. The researchers are uncertain how long the clam, which died during the assessment process,[3] might have lived had it been left on the ocean floor.[4][5] The clam was named after the Ming Dynasty due to its age.[1] Since its discovery, the general public has taken a strong interest in the clam, perhaps because of its appearance on a Snapple bottle cap fact.
Scientists are hoping the discovery of Ming will help aid in researching the aging process, and how some animals 'escape' old age.[5]