A Greenland shark discovered in the North Atlantic is estimated to be 512 years old, making it the oldest living vertebrate known to science. Researchers believe cold water and a slow metabolism may explain its extreme longevity.
A 512-Year-Old Shark: Breaking Records in the Animal Kingdom
Just months ago, a group of scientists made a jaw-dropping discovery while conducting research in the North Atlantic: a Greenland shark estimated to be more than five centuries old. Measuring age through the radiocarbon content of the shark’s eye lens, researchers concluded that this remarkable animal likely hatched around 1505, making it older than the works of Shakespeare—and the oldest known living vertebrate on Earth.
What Makes Greenland Sharks So Long-Lived?
Unlike most animals, Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) grow incredibly slowly—only about 0.4 inches (1 cm) per year—and can live well beyond 400 years. They don’t even reach sexual maturity until they’re around 150 years old. The specimen in question breaks all previous records, with an estimated lifespan of 512 years. Scientists believe the shark’s longevity may be attributed to its slow metabolism and the frigid temperatures of its Arctic habitat. Cold water reduces metabolic stress, which may help slow cellular aging. Still, researchers admit this is largely theoretical, and the precise mechanisms remain unknown.
How Scientists Determined Its Age
The team, led by marine biologist Julius Nielsen, used radiocarbon dating of eye lens proteins to determine the shark’s age. Unlike previous methods—such as estimating age based on the shark’s size—this approach provides much more accurate results. “This creature is truly extraordinary,” Nielsen said. “It should be considered among the oldest living animals on the planet.” The study, published in the journal Science, analyzed 28 different Greenland sharks to validate the technique. This represents a significant advance, as earlier attempts to determine their age had failed due to the absence of reliable growth markers.
Apex Predator of the Arctic
Despite their slow growth, Greenland sharks are apex predators in the Arctic. They have been observed scavenging on a wide range of marine life, even rotting polar bear carcasses. However, they often suffer from parasites, especially on their eyes, which may contribute to their partially blind appearance. Nielsen, who has studied the species for years, notes that Greenland sharks are elusive and tend to migrate across vast regions. Genetic data suggests they share a common origin but have since dispersed widely across Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.
What’s Next in Greenland Shark Research?
The scientific community is now shifting its focus to uncover why these sharks live so long. Nielsen and his team, in collaboration with institutions from Denmark, Greenland, the U.S., and China, are currently sequencing the shark’s entire nuclear genome. This research could potentially reveal genetic traits linked to longevity and resilience—not just for sharks, but for other species as well. “This is the longest-living vertebrate known to science,” Nielsen emphasized. “Understanding how and why it lives so long could open new doors in aging research.”
A Glimpse Into a Frozen Past
Imagine an animal that has silently glided through Arctic waters since before the invention of the telescope or the colonization of the Americas. That’s the astonishing reality of the Greenland shark. Its ancient existence serves as a living connection to a long-forgotten world, offering both wonder and scientific promise.
