In the world of fantasy films and storybooks, there exist many wondrous creatures - the beautiful, white horse with a golden horn, or the large, flying and fire-breathing reptile are just two of them.
These creatures are believed to be able to live lives way beyond the years of the natural lifespan of any of the animals we know.
Of late, there has been a louder-than-a-whisper claim that there is an ancient mariner in the form of a shark that can live for 400 years… or more.
Is this true, or is it just another fantasy?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Imagine a vertebrate silently gliding through the icy depths of the North Atlantic as empires of the world rose and fell in the last few centuries. That is the Greenland shark.
A study published in 2016 estimated that the oldest Greenland sharks could be around 392 years old, with a margin of error of 120 years.
This suggests a potential age range from 272 to 512 years, solidifying their status as the longest-living vertebrates.
This slow-moving predator can grow up to 21 feet long and weigh over 1,000 kg.
The exceptional longevity of Greenland sharks can be attributed to several factors, such as the frigid waters. It slows their metabolism, a trait often linked to longer life spans.
With a growth rate of less than one centimetre per year, Greenland sharks experience a prolonged juvenile phase, also contributing to their longevity.
They reach sexual maturity at about 150 years of age, and their pups are born alive after an estimated gestation period of eight to 18 years.
Residing in deep, cold waters with minimal natural predators allows these sharks to live relatively undisturbed lives. But, Greenland sharks do face threats from fishing, climate change and pollution.
We hope these sharks will be able to continue living their lives undisturbed.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.
