Researchers using radiocarbon dating on eye lens proteins have identified a Greenland shark estimated to be 392 years old. This discovery makes it the longest lived vertebrate known to science, revealing a biological timeline that spans from the early 17th century to the present day. The study emphasizes the extreme vulnerability of the species, as these sharks may not reach sexual maturity until they are 100 years old. This slow growth rate means that bycatch and environmental stressors can cause population declines that take centuries to recover.
