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Shark Senescence

Short answer: The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) lives in the cold, deep North Atlantic and Arctic. In 2016, Julius Nielsen and colleagues dated proteins in the core of the eye lens of 28 female sharks.

Those proteins form before birth and aren't replaced. The team used radiocarbon, including the 'bomb pulse' from 1950s-60s nuclear tests, to estimate ages. The largest shark, 502 cm long, came out at 392 ± 120 years, which puts its likely age between 272 and 512 years. That makes the Greenland shark the longest-lived vertebrate known. The study also estimated that females reach sexual maturity at about 156 ± 22 years. Sharks like this grow only about 1 cm a year in near-freezing water.

VideoWrite-up3 sources
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What should you know about Shark Senescence?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The largest Greenland shark studied was estimated at 392 ± 120 years.

    DD-701-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit C (The numbers)

  2. Females are estimated to mature at about 156 years.

    DD-701-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit D (Late bloomers)

Video transcript: Shark Senescence: Born Before the US Existed

DID YOU KNOW? The Greenland shark is one of the most extraordinary long-lived animals on Earth, holding the record for the longest lifespan of any known vertebrate. Scientific studies using radiocarbon dating of proteins in the shark's eye lenses estimate that these slow-growing sharks can live at least 272 years, and possibly more than 500 years, with individual age estimates often centered around roughly 400 years for the largest specimens. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 22.2s Reel ·

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Shark Senescence: Born Before the US Existed Instagram Reel · · 22.2s

The write-up

Born before the US existed. Greenland sharks may live for about 400 years.

  1. Exhibit A

    A clock in the eye

    The proteins at the center of the eye lens form before birth and stay put for life, so their carbon records when the shark was born.

  2. Exhibit B

    The bomb pulse

    Atmospheric nuclear tests in the 1950s-60s spiked carbon-14 levels. Sharks whose lens cores carried that signal were younger than about 50 years, which helped calibrate a growth curve for the older ones.

  3. Exhibit C

    The numbers

    Of 28 females studied, the largest (502 cm) was estimated at 392 ± 120 years, with a 95% probability range of about 272 to 512 years.

  4. Exhibit D

    Late bloomers

    With growth of roughly 1 cm a year, females are estimated to reach sexual maturity at about 156 ± 22 years.

  5. Exhibit E

    Cold and slow

    The species lives in near-freezing water down to great depths, and a slow metabolism there is thought to contribute to its long life.

Questions people ask about Shark Senescence

What part of the shark was radiocarbon-dated?

Proteins in the eye lens nucleus.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (A clock in the eye) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

What was the central age estimate for the largest shark?

392 ± 120 years.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (The numbers) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

Roughly when do females reach maturity?

About 156 ± 22 years.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Late bloomers) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science

What calibrated the young sharks' ages?

Carbon-14 from 1950s-60s bomb tests.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The bomb pulse) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science

What is the Greenland shark's scientific name?

Somniosus microcephalus.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (A clock in the eye) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What part of the shark was radiocarbon-dated?

    1. The eye lens
    2. A fin
    3. The teeth
    4. The liver
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The eye lens Proteins in the eye lens nucleus. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (A clock in the eye) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

  2. What was the central age estimate for the largest shark?

    1. About 100 years
    2. About 392 years
    3. About 1,000 years
    4. About 50 years
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. About 392 years 392 ± 120 years. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (The numbers) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

  3. Roughly when do females reach maturity?

    1. About 15 years
    2. About 50 years
    3. About 156 years
    4. About 300 years
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. About 156 years About 156 ± 22 years. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Late bloomers) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science

  4. What calibrated the young sharks' ages?

    1. The nuclear-test bomb pulse
    2. Tree rings
    3. Tags from the 1800s
    4. Ice cores
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The nuclear-test bomb pulse Carbon-14 from 1950s-60s bomb tests. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The bomb pulse) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science

  5. What is the Greenland shark's scientific name?

    1. Somniosus microcephalus
    2. Carcharodon carcharias
    3. Rhincodon typus
    4. Squalus acanthias
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Somniosus microcephalus Somniosus microcephalus. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (A clock in the eye) · Nielsen et al. (2016), Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), Science; Science news (2016): Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Shark Senescence." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-701, last updated Feb 22, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/shark-senescence/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/shark-senescence/ · Last updated

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