Correlation between body size and longevity: new analysis and data covering six taxonomic classes of vertebrates

Large-bodied species are known to live longer than small-bodied species. However, it is less clear whether the positive correlation varies across taxa. In this short communication, we combine data entries from literature and databases on body mass and maximum life span for 3722 species covering taxonomic Classes Chondrichthyes, Teleostei, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. We then analyze the log(maximum life span) – log(body mass) relationship using generalized linear model with nested random intercepts and slopes for Class/Order/Family. Our analyses generally demonstrate the positive longevity – body mass relationship but also reveal that slopes and intercepts differ slightly among all Classes except Reptilia and Amphibia. The highest slopes can be found in Classes Aves and Chondrichthyes. Differences between the smallest and largest Family-level slopes were more than threefold. While these preliminary analyses provide a brief overview of body size – longevity relationships acros..., Raw data on body masses and longevities for 6 Classes, 99 Order and 420 Family: data_final.txt intercepts and slopes for the body size - longevity relationship for 420 families: final_intercept_slope_original.txt R codes for the analyses and figures: code_analyses_figures.R, , ## Correlation between body size and longevity: new analysis and data covering six taxonomic classes of vertebrates This dataset combines data entries from literature and databases on body mass and maximum life span for 3722 species covering taxonomic Classes Chondrichthyes, Teleostei, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. We analyze the log(maximum life span) – log(body mass) relationship using generalized linear model with nested random intercepts and slopes for Class/Order/Family. The analyses generally demonstrate the positive longevity – body mass relationship but also reveal that slopes and intercepts differ slightly among almost all Classes. ## Description of data and file structure Raw data on body masses and longevities for 6 Classes, 99 Order and 420 Family: data\_final.txt Columns: * Phylum: Taxonomic phylum of the species * Class: Taxonomic class of the species * Order: Taxonomic order of the species * Family: Taxonomic family of the species * Genus: Taxonomic genus o...