Shark is oldest known vertebrate

August 11, 2016 - A new study reveals that Greenland sharks can live at least 400 years, making this mysterious species the longest-lived vertebrate on Earth. The longevity of the Greenland shark surpasses even that of the bowhead whale, which has a life span of 211 years.

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Greenland sharks live at least as long as 400 years, and they reach sexual maturity at the age of about 150, a new study published in the journal Science reports.

An international team of scientists led by the University of Copenhagen found that Greenland sharks are the longest-lived vertebrates on Earth. The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is widely distributed across the North Atlantic, with adults reaching lengths of 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet).

The biology of the Greenland shark is poorly understood, yet their extremely slow growth rates, at about one cm per year, hint that these fish benefit from exceptional longevity.

Traditional methods for determining the age of a species involve analysing calcified tissue, a feature that’s sparse in Greenland sharks. Therefore, to determine the average age of this species, Julius Nielsen et al. applied radiocarbon dating techniques to the eye lenses of 28 females caught as by-catch.

Their analysis suggests an average lifespan of at least 272 years. The two largest sharks in this study, at 4.93m and 5.02m in length, were estimated to be roughly 335 and 392 years old, respectively. What’s more, since previous reports suggest that females of this species reach sexual maturity at lengths greater than 4m, the corresponding age would be at least 156 years old, the authors say.

The life expectancy of the Greenland shark is exceeded only by that of the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica), a species of edible clam. One specimen dredged off the coast of Iceland in 2006 was determined to be 507 years old.

Based on these results, the Greenland shark is now the oldest-known vertebrate to roam the Earth.