A 5.02-meter Greenland shark captured accidentally in the waters of Greenland may have lived for nearly four centuries, according to a scientific study that estimates the animal’s age at approximately 392 years, making it the longest-living vertebrate ever identified. That figure sits within a wide calculated range spanning from 272 to 512 years, reflecting the inherent complexities of aging such remarkably long-lived marine species.
Methodology Behind the 392-Year Greenland Shark Estimate
To calculate the age of the female shark, researchers analyzed the nucleus of the eye’s crystalline lens. According to the study, this specific ocular tissue preserves proteins formed during the earliest stages of life. Scientists measured the carbon-14 levels present within these proteins and compared those readings against historical radiocarbon variations. This process allowed the research team to build a probabilistic model for the animal’s lifespan.
Did you know? Even when scientists look at the lowest boundary of the calculated range—272 years—this Greenland shark still surpasses the previous vertebrate longevity record. That prior record was held by a bowhead whale estimated to have lived for roughly 211 years.
Extremely Slow Biological Rhythms and Conservation Risks
The research reveals that the Greenland shark possesses an exceptionally slow life cycle. Data from the study indicates that females of the species might not reach sexual maturity until they are approximately 156 years old. While this unique physiological pace accounts for their incredible longevity, it also leaves populations highly vulnerable to captures and the loss of mature adult specimens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was the Greenland shark found in the study?
Researchers estimate the central age of the 5.02-meter female shark is 392 years, though the complete statistical range spans from 272 to 512 years.
How do scientists determine the age of a Greenland shark?
Scientists analyze carbon-14 found within the proteins of the shark’s eye lens nucleus, comparing the data with radiocarbon variations over time.
When do female Greenland sharks reach sexual maturity?
According to the scientific study, females reach maturity around 156 years of age.
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