TRULY ANCIENT MARINERS

New research published in Science shows that Greenland sharks are the longest-lived vertebrates in the world, with radiocarbon dating revealing the oldest found to be 392 years old, plus or minus 150 years.

Greenland sharks live in the north Atlantic and grow up to six metres long, though only at a rate of a few centimetres a year. This slow growth rate leading to an adult of a large size is commonly an indicator of long-lived animals. Curious marine biologist John Steffensen at the University of Copenhagen, along with his graduate student Julius Nielsen, used radiocarbon dating and shark lengths to arrive at this astonishing figure.

Very little is known about this elusive species, though this new research suggests it is likely that females do not give birth to young until they are around 150 years old!