History Main / ShapeshifterLongevity

The reasons for this vary, and sometimes aren't made apparent in the media in which they appear. Perhaps it's [[WeAreAsMayflies a trait of the species]], perhaps it's some quirk of whatever magic or mutation bestowed this power on the character, or perhaps the individual is an immortal being of some kind who has learned to shapeshift. In cases where it's actually explained, this longevity might even be explicitly tied in with the ability to shapeshift. In this case, the cells regenerate every time they take on a new configuration, each new form adopted is specifically a strong and healthy one and the shapeshifter moves on to a new one before accumulating the wear and tear of age, granting the shapeshifter an extended lifespan in the process.

* In the ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' book ''[[TabletopGame/GURPSSettings Shapeshifters]],'' the Enyyn are essentially an entire species of shapeshifting {{blob monster}}s that can assume just about any imaginable form [[ShapeshifterBaggage provided it doesn't exceed their existing mass]]. They're also effectively immortal: not only do they not age, but they're extraordinarily resistant to temperature extremes, are completely immune to radiation, and thanks to their abstract body structures, they're ''very'' difficult to injure. As such, Enyyn player characters cost a ''ton'' of points, especially given that some of the more active ones can be more than a ''[[TimeAbyss quarter of a million years old]]''. The sample character provided, Narzhal av’Oronad AKA TheConqueror, costs 1200 points and has a stated age of more than two thousand years, having been exiled from his homeworld for psychopathic traits in the eighteen century and adopted Earth as his seat of power in the nineteenth.

** Of all the Changing Breeds in the game, [[ThreateningShark the Rokea]] (AKA the Weresharks) are the only true immortals to be found. On top of being able to take no less than five different forms -- including that of a giant shark and an equally giant SharkMan -- they are effectively unaging from the moment of their first Change. The only way they can die is violently.

** ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Symbiotes like ''ComicBook/{{Venom}} and ComicBook/{{Carnage}} are shapeshifters able to mimic things like clothing, mold their bodies into weapons, and can even alter the physical appearance of their hosts. Also, various sources indicate that the Symbiotes are either incredibly long-lived or are literally immortal: in ''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'', the Venom symbiote is still kicking around more than a century after it was initially introduced, while back in main Marvel continuity, symbiote MonsterProgenitor [[EldritchAbomination All-Black]] was created billions of years ago and even had the power to bestow immortality upon its host.

** ''Franchise/SpiderMan'': Symbiotes like Venom and Carnage are shapeshifters able to mimic things like clothing, mold their bodies into weapons, and can even alter the physical appearance of their hosts. Also, various sources indicate that the Symbiotes are either incredibly long-lived or are literally immortal: in ''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'', the Venom symbiote is still kicking around more than a century after it was initially introduced, while back in main Marvel continuity, symbiote MonsterProgenitor [[EldritchAbomination All-Black]] was created billions of years ago and even had the power to bestow immortality upon its host.

* ''Literature/{{Camouflage}}'': The Changeling and the Chameleon are both shapeshifters, and while they possess varying levels of ability, the two of them are effectively immortal thanks to their powers. For good measure, the two of them have been on Earth for millions of years, with the latter [[UndyingWarrior killing its way across numerous battlefields]] and the former spending eons as various sea creatures before finally noticing the presence of human beings and deciding to impersonate one of them. In the intro, it's actually explained that their species evolved shapeshifting as an AdaptiveAbility, and once it developed enough to be consciously controlled, it soon adapted to ''aging'' as well.

* ''Literature/{{Phantoms}}'': The Ancient Enemy is a gigantic VoluntaryShapeshifter that has existed since the time of the dinosaurs, tens of millions of years ago -- and the only reason why this is discovered is because said Ancient Enemy is in the habit of transforming into extinct monsters to terrorize its victims.