A Greenland shark studied in 2016 was estimated to be nearly 400 years old, meaning it may have been born around the time Shakespeare’s era was ending — and, astonishingly, would not have reached sexual maturity for more than another century.
A Greenland shark estimated to be nearly 400 years old highlights the extreme longevity and delayed maturity of the planet's longest-living vertebrate.
Velocity
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
The brief
Recent coverage focuses on the extreme lifespan of the Greenland shark, with one specimen studied in 2016 estimated to be nearly 400 years old. This suggests the animal may have been born around the end of Shakespeare’s era.
Reports from BBC Wildlife Magazine and IFLScience emphasize the shark's unique biological timeline, noting that it does not reach sexual maturity until 150 years of age and can be pregnant for 18 years. IFLScience further notes that nuclear weapons played a role in revealing these age estimates.
Future attention remains on the emerging science of long-lived animals, as documented by Living on Earth and The Times of India, which identify these creatures as some of the longest-living animals on Earth.
Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 2d ago.
Quick answers
How old was the Greenland shark studied in 2016?
It was estimated to be nearly 400 years old.
At what age does a Greenland shark reach sexual maturity?
According to BBC Wildlife Magazine, it does not reach sexual maturity until 150 years old.
How long can a Greenland shark's pregnancy last?
BBC Wildlife Magazine reports that a pregnancy can last 18 years.
Coverage (5)
- "It doesn't reach sexual maturity until 150 years old and can be pregnant for a humongous 18 years." Meet the 10 longest living animals on the planet BBC Wildlife Magazine · 3d ago
- The longest-living animals on Earth: These remarkable creatures can survive for 200 years and some even longer The Times of India · 3d ago
- Note on Emerging Science: Long-Lived Greenland Sharks Living on Earth · 3d ago
- How Nuclear Weapons Helped Reveal That The Longest-living Vertebrate On Earth Can Reach A Whopping 400 Years IFLScience · 3d ago
- A Greenland shark studied in 2016 was estimated to be nearly 400 years old, meaning it may have been born around the time Shakespeare’s era was ending — and, astonishingly, would not have reached sexual maturity for more than another century. Space Daily · 3d ago
Topics
Related trends
This Is How Long You Should Strength Train Every Week to Live Longer
A new study suggests strength training could be a key to longevity.
Science news this week: Goblin shark filmed for first time, California close to a major quake, physicists split photon, and inside China's plans to 'tame nature'
Rare deep-sea goblin sharks have been captured on camera in their natural habitat for the first time.
When a dead whale sinks to the seafloor, its 'whale fall' becomes an oasis feeding deep-sea life for decades — up to 190 species crowding a single skeleton, with bone-eating worms gnawing the bones for as long as a decade
The discovery of a massive underwater whale graveyard reveals how 'whale falls' sustain deep-sea ecosystems for decades.
Men face many health crises in midlife. How can they avoid them and age well?
Men's health in midlife is a growing concern, with coverage urging better self-care and preventive measures.
Some tropical butterfly species have unlocked an evolutionary way to live longer
Certain tropical butterfly species are exhibiting extreme longevity, potentially linked to a specific diet of pollen.
'A completely different story': 300 million-year-old fossils reveal the first vertebrate land dwellers weren't what we thought, researchers claim
A new fossil discovery challenges long-held theories about the first vertebrates to live on land.