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How old is the oldest living Greenland shark?
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Greenland shark swimming under ice in dark Arctic waters near Baffin Island, Canada, with its large, elongated body and rough skin visible.
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Greenland shark swimming under ice in dark Arctic waters near Baffin Island, Canada, with its large, elongated body and rough skin visible.
Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) This cartilaginous fish is the world's longest-lived vertebrate.

How old is the oldest living Greenland shark?

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Scientific data suggest that Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) may live for more than 500 years and that the oldest known living Greenland shark is about 400 years old. This remarkable longevity—which earns this fish the title of “world’s longest-lived vertebrate”—is likely a result of their exceptionally slow growth and metabolism, which is fostered by the cold, deep-water environment they inhabit.

These sharks grow at a glacial pace, taking about 150 years just to reach sexual maturity. This slow growth is matched by their slow swimming speed, which is less than 3 km (about 2 miles) per hour. Living in the frigid depths of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, these sharks experience a reduced overall metabolic rate, which, according to scientists, likely contributes to their extended life span. This slow and steady approach to life allows them to conserve energy and avoid the cellular damage that comes with a faster-paced existence.

Despite their impressive age, much about the Greenland shark’s life remains a mystery. Scientists have used radiocarbon dating of isotopes within the nucleus of the lens of the shark’s eye to estimate its age, which, according to a 2016 study in the journal Science, could range from 272 to 512 years for the oldest living specimen. The exact age of the oldest living Greenland shark, however, is still a subject of research and debate. This enigmatic creature continues to intrigue scientists, who in 2024 sequenced the shark’s genome, bringing them several steps closer to understanding the secrets of its extraordinary longevity. The scientists identified multiple copies of genes that regulate inflammation and assist with DNA repair. As we continue to study these remarkable sharks, we gain valuable insights into the mechanisms of aging.

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