A shark that was discovered in the North Atlantic is said to have been born around 1505 and this was when Henry VIII called off his engagement to Catherine of Aragon.
The Greenland shark discovered is thought to have been around since before Shakespeare was born.
Greenland Shark Might Have Been Born Around 1505
The Greenland shark is said to be the oldest living vertebrate to have ever been found and scientists have said that it might be as old as 512 years. The shark was captured by fisherman and was one that was amongst a group of 28 sharks that scientists have analyzed.
The scientists took the size of the shark into account to determine the year it might have been born and they estimated this to be as early as 1505. The Greenland species of shark is said to have a growth rate of just 1cm per year and the species is known for having a lifespan of many hundreds of years.
Experts studying the shark measured it at 18 feet in length and they used radiocarbon dating to be able to put its age as somewhere between 272 and 512 years of age. This particular shark was the oldest out of the entire group of sharks that have been analyzed by the scientists during this particular study.
Scientists Used Mathematical Model Of Sharks Eye To Determine Age
Kim Praebel from the Arctic University of Norway said that Greenland sharks can live up to 400 years. However, more recent research has suggested that the species may, in fact, be able to live a lot longer. Thanks to a mathematical model used to analyze the cornea and lens scientists have been able to predict age and they made use of the method last year to determine the age of an animal.
The Greenland shark is also called the grey shark or gurry shark and they belong to the Somniosidae family of sharks. Marine biologist Julius Nielsen was among the people who found the sharks and he said that the creature is extraordinary and it is considered to be one of the oldest animals in the world.
Source: disclose.tv
