The five-meter shark, which is approximately 512 years old, was caught by a group of marine zoologists from the University of Copenhagen off the coast of Greenland. The discovered shark is the record holder for life expectancy among vertebrates, writes The Sun.
The length of the caught shark reaches 5.4 meters, its age was determined using radiocarbon analysis of the lens of the eye. The analysis error is about 5% for several hundred years.
The shark was examined and released.
University professor Julius Nielsen and his colleagues have been observing Greenland sharks for a long time. Scientists capture animals, attach satellite beacons to them, take microscopic tissue samples and release them back into the sea. Scientists use lighthouses to track fish migration routes during the season.
Greenland sharks grow up to 7 meters. The longest-lived group of Greenland polar sharks are known to have an average age of 272 years. All years sharks grow slowly (about 1 cm per year) and are capable of giving offspring until death.
Greenland sharks feed on fish, although the remains of deer and even horses have been found in their stomachs. In Iceland, their meat is considered a delicacy, but must be properly cooked, otherwise it can become poisonous.
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For a long time, Greenland sharks were caught industrially, but by the beginning of the 21st century, their numbers had declined and the catch was limited. Sharks are sluggish and slow-moving, which makes them easy prey for humans. But among animals, fish have no enemies.
Greenland sharks are called "time capsules". Scientists are trying to understand the mechanism of their longevity and the degree of influence of human civilization on the oceans using the DNA of the caught individual.