Some creatures in this world enjoy a longevity that we can only dream of (at least, for now). One of them is the so-called Greenland shark or Somniosus microcephalus. Its average lifespan is estimated to exceed 270 years, but in August 2016, a team of researchers published a study suggesting a maximum age of 512 years, making it the oldest vertebrate on the planet.
The clonal colony Pando is estimated to be about 80,000 years old. Some glass sponges are over ten thousand years old. The black coral in the Gulf of Mexico may have surpassed two thousand years. And of course, we cannot forget several turtles whose ages ranged from 165 to 255 years. We humans do everything we can to live longer, but we pale in comparison to the longevity of other creatures. Of course, there is always the possibility of learning more about them that can help us better understand their aging processes, and why not, optimize ours. The search led specialists to the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, home of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus).
A Mathematical Model for Age Estimation
A broad group of researchers representing institutions in Denmark, Norway, Greenland, the United States, and the United Kingdom published in Science a study describing the application of a mathematical model (based on radiocarbon dating) to analyze the lens and cornea of the shark, in an attempt to determine its age more precisely. The combined results from 28 sharks showed an average of 392 years, which is impressive in itself, but everything changed thanks to a specimen of 502 centimeters. If we consider that the Somniosus microcephalus grows at a rate of one centimeter per year, the mathematical model suggests that the shark in question could have a maximum of 512 years of age. In other words, the shark would have been born in the Middle Ages.
Now, the researchers' method is far from perfect. In fact, its margin of error is +/- 120 years from the average of 392, meaning that in the worst case, the shark's age would drop to 272 years; however, even with that error, the Greenland shark is the oldest vertebrate on Earth. How do they achieve it? A very slow metabolism, the temperature of the waters, and the fact of being the top predator of the area have an influence.
