World's Oldest Shark Lives for 400 Years and Matures at Age 150
Living in the freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Greenland shark, with its lifespan exceeding 400 years, has left the scientific world in awe. This creature, which only reaches puberty at the age of 150, seemingly halts time, living more than twice the lifespan of a human.
The scientific community has identified the longest-living vertebrate on the planet.
According to a study published in Science magazine, the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), which dominates the waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic, has claimed the record with an approximate lifespan of 400 years. The previous record was held by a bowhead whale, which lived for about two centuries.
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen employed an unconventional method to determine the age of these enigmatic giants.
The team analyzing radioactive carbon traces in fish eye lenses determined the age of an individual to be 392. Taking into account the margin of error, it is estimated that some specimens of this species could reach up to 512 years of age. This suggests that the shark in question could have been born before the establishment of the United States, and perhaps even just after the conquest of Istanbul.
Known by the nickname "Sleeping Shark," this species has built its survival strategy around the concept of "slowness."
Inhabiting depths where the water temperature plunges to as low as 1°C, the Greenland shark advances at a mere speed of 1 kilometer per hour. Its metabolism operates at such a sluggish pace that reaching its colossal size of 5 meters takes centuries.
The biological clocks of these creatures are pushing the boundaries of human logic.
A Greenland shark takes approximately 150 to 156 years to reach sexual maturity and begin mating. This means that these creatures are only considered 'adults' after living nearly twice the average human lifespan.
The life of Greenland sharks is not only lengthy, but also fraught with challenges.
The parasitic crabs known as Ommatokoita elongata, commonly found in their eyes, severely impair the fish's vision by attaching to their lenses. However, since they dwell in deep and dark waters, their sense of sight takes a backseat in their survival.
In addition, their flesh is poisonous for human consumption when fresh due to the presence of trimethylamine Noxide in their bodies. Yet, the Icelanders have come up with an intriguing solution to this: 'hákarl', a national dish known for its pungent ammonia smell, is prepared by fermenting and drying the meat underground for several months.
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