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400-year-old animal named oldest living vertebrate

Image courtesy of Julius Nielson via open source trueactivist.com.

Image courtesy of Julius Nielson via open source trueactivist.com.


Daksha Rangan
Digital Reporter

Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 7:07 PM - Two world wars, the Industrial Revolution, and the founding of the United States and Canada. These are just a few of the world's most significant historical events that the planet's oldest-living vertebrate has existed through.

A team of Danish researchers have confirmed that the Greenland Shark is the longest-living species with a backbone on Earth.


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Researchers determined the shark's age using radiocarbon dating. Of 28 sharks examined, one female was found to be 400 years old, making her the planet's oldest vertebrate.

The near-blind shark resides in the sub-zero waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, and has an estimated maximum lifespan of 500 years, nature reports.

Watch Below: Raw footage of the Greenland Shark

"We had our expectations that we were dealing with an unusual animal, but I think everyone doing this research was very surprised to learn the sharks were as old as they were," Julius Nielsen, marine biologist at the University of Copenhagen and the study's lead author, told the BBC.


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Greenland sharks are slow swimmers with a massive span, with some growing up to 5 metres in length.

Scientists note that the sharks likely live longer due to their cold habitat, which contributes to a slowed-down metabolism. But the exact reason for their longevity is still uncertain.

When considering invertebrates, Ming, a 507-year-old clam, keeps its place as the oldest living animal.

Watch Below: Vessel found in Lake Ontario confirmed as 2nd oldest shipwreck in Great Lakes

SOURCE: BBC | Quartz | nature

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