Can you imagine anyone alive today who lived in the time of William Shakespeare and James I of England? While this may seem unimaginable to humans, it may be a reality for another species. The average human lifespan is around 70 years, but there is a species of shark that can live up to 400 years and has an average lifespan of around 272 years.
We’re talking about Greenland sharks, which can live up to 400 years, making them part of the land. Longest living vertebrates. These sharks have a very slow growth rate, about 1 cm per year, which is much slower than other marine creatures such as the bowhead whale and the Galapagos tortoise, which are also contenders for the title of longest living creature. . The only other species known to live longer are a variety of clams.
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These sharks are local. Arctic waterGrows over seven meters tall. With a dark gray, black and brown cylindrical body, these sharks resemble submarines and can grow up to 23 feet long and weigh 1.5 tons. Because of their slow growth rate, these sharks reach sexual maturity at around 150 years of age. A study of these marine animals used radiocarbon dating to determine their ages. The two largest sharks studied measured 493 cm and 502 cm in length and were approximately 335 and 392 years old.
It has been observed that these sharks can live in water as deep as 7,200 feet and maintain temperatures between minus 2 and 7 degrees Celsius. Shark tissue contains high levels of chemical compounds that act as antifreeze, preventing ice crystals from forming in their bodies. These sharks conserve their energy by swimming at a speed of 1.12 feet per second.
While scientists previously believed that extreme cold temperatures may be the secret to these sharks’ longevity, recent studies suggest that their almost unchanged metabolism may actually be the reason for their longevity. Scientists observed that Greenland sharks, unlike other animals, do not undergo enzyme deficiency. These sharks have a stable metabolism, and do not decompose like other animals, which likely contributes to their longevity.