Hanako koi fish 

A Japanese fish called Hanako is believed to be the longest living Koi fish ever recorded. It lived for 226 years before her death in 1977.

The scarlet-coloured female fish was born in 1751 in Japan. The average lifespan of a scarlet koi carp is around 40 years. However, Hanako lived in the 1970s and was aged 226 when she died.

Dr. Komeri Koshihara, Hanako's last owner first shared her story in 1966 on Nippon Hoso Kyokai radio station.

Koshihara had got Hanako's age verified by professor Masayoshi Hiro, who worked at the Laboratory of Animal Science of the Nagoya Women's College.

Hiro had extracted two of Hanako's scales to determine her age.

As per the English transcript of the broadcast, Koshihara had said, "This 'Hanako' is still in perfect condition and swimming about majestically in a quiet ravine descending Mt Ontake in a short distance. She weighs 7.5 kilograms and is 70 centimetres in length."

He had added, "She and I are dearest friends. When I call her saying 'Hanako! Hanako!' from the brink of the pond, she unhesitatingly comes swimming to my feet. If I lightly pat her on the head, she looks quite delighted. Sometimes I go so far as to take her out of the water and embrace her."

"At one time a person watching asked me whether I was performing a trick with the carp. Although a fish, she seems to feel that she is dearly loved, and it appears that there is some communication of feeling between us. At present my greatest pleasure is to go to my native place two or three times a month and keep company with 'Hanako'," Koshihara had said.

He had explained that just like a tree had its annual rings on its trunk, a fish has its annual rings on its scales. One just has to count them to know the age of the fish.

The fish had been passed on for several generations in Koshihara's family.

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