AI Article Synopsis
- The Greenland shark can grow over 500 cm and has an exceptionally long lifespan, potentially exceeding 272 years.
- Radiocarbon dating indicates that the oldest sharks can be nearly 400 years old, with sexual maturity occurring around 156 years of age.
- These findings establish the Greenland shark as the longest-lived vertebrate, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for the species.
Article Abstract
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an iconic species of the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reaches >500 centimeters (cm) in total length, suggesting a life span well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks (81 to 502 cm in total length) revealed a life span of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (220 cm or less) showed signs of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. The age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as midpoint and extent of the 95.4% probability range) revealed the age at sexual maturity to be at least 156 ± 22 years, and the largest animal (502 cm) to be 392 ± 120 years old. Our results show that the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and they raise concerns about species conservation.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf1703 | DOI Listing |
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