The Greenland Shark Is the Longest-Lived Vertebrate Known

How old can a shark get? One team of researchers set out to measure it for the Greenland shark. In a study published in the journal Science in 2016, they used radiocarbon dating on the nuclei of eye lenses from 28 female Greenland sharks, which ranged from 81 to 502 centimeters in length. The results revealed a life span of at least 272 years. The largest animal, at 502 centimeters, was estimated to be 392 years old, give or take 120 years. The sharks also grow up slowly. The study put the age at sexual maturity at no less than 156 years, give or take 22. The authors concluded that the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and said the results raise concerns about the conservation of the species.