A rare specimen! Considered the oldest shark in the world, it is a female that exceeds half a millennium. It is estimated that it would be more than 500 years old, being a large fish that lives in the waters of Greenland.
This animal fascinates the scientific community. Unfortunately, many of these fish are overfished. For this reason, it has become common to run into one of these sharks of such age.
Some facts about the Somniosus microcephalus
Known by the name of “Greenland Shark”, it becomes quite large: between five and up to seven meters in length. What most attracts his attention is its extreme longevity. On average, it reaches an age of 272 times around the sun.
However, there are some of these fish that are true “Methuselah” of the sea. There have been cases of Somniosus microcephalus with more than three and four centuries of life. However, now scientists have come across this female with more than half a millennium.
How do you know the age of these animals?
This is done by taking a tissue sample from the center of the lens, which is the area of the eye that allows you to focus. For this, it is necessary to use the support of the carbon 14 technique, which is used to know the age of many things.
28 fish of this type have been monitored. The average number of years detected is about two hundred, but a female gave the possibility of 512 years of life. An unexpected amount! They had never come across such an old vertebrate.
It is important to note that the technique that “carbon 14” has a margin of error of 120 years, so in reality there is talk of a margin between 512 and 392 years. However, this is the first animal that shows such a high possibility of life.
The oldest animals in the world
East 512-year-old shark in the Arctic integrates the select group of 5 oldest animals in the world, along with: the Adwaita tortoise, the Ming Clam, the Seychelles giant tortoise and jellyfish. They all exceed the century of existence!
It must be taken into account that the longest-lived animals on the planet are: the Turritopsis Jellyfish (it regenerates and rejuvenates, being almost immortal), Boreal Whale (150/200 years), Geoduck Clams (150), American Lobster (140) and the Galapagos Tortoise (120).
What can we learn from all this? Well, that life can be long in certain animals. Some exceed the average of human existence. These are species whose existence we must respect and admire.
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