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 across taxa, the
dataset collated in the present study could serve as a starting point for
in-depth phylogenetic analyses to uncover complex pathways through which
body size and its correlates might have evolved.