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Thursday, October 16, 2025

The Greenland Shark: A 400-Year Survivor of the Deep

by Kedizu Cale Kedizu Cale | in , , , , ,
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The Shark That Outlived Empires: Greenland Shark's Centuries-Long Journey

Beneath the frigid, muted expanse of the Arctic waters glides a creature that has witnessed more human history than any living being: a Greenland shark estimated to be nearly 400 years old. Born perhaps in the early 1600s—whispered into life when Galileo pointed his telescope skyward—this shark continues its slow, silent odyssey through the deep.

In a world obsessed with speed, this shark’s life teaches us a quiet lesson: longevity, not haste, may be nature’s greatest marvel. Let us dive into the biology, the mystery, the science—and the haunting wonder—of this living relic of our planet.

400 Years Old Greenland Shark


The Longest-Lived Vertebrate? Greenland Sharks in Context

How old is that shark, really?

In 2016, a landmark scientific study used radiocarbon dating of eye lens proteins to estimate the age of 28 female Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) captured as bycatch in the North Atlantic. The largest specimen—measuring roughly 5 meters (16+ feet)—was estimated to be 392 years old, with a 95% confidence interval ranging between 272 and 512 years. (Nielsen et al. 2016) (National Geographic)

This places it among the longest-lived vertebrates known (some sources cite Greenland sharks as the record holder). (Wikipedia)

Other studies propose that Greenland sharks generally live between 250 and 500 years, depending on conditions and individual variation. (Live Science)

A life measured in centimeters per year

These sharks grow extremely slowly—about 1 centimeter per year—a pace utterly out of sync with ordinary fish. (Wikipedia) Because their bodies lack the hard calcified structures used by many fish to mark annual growth (like otoliths or rings in vertebrae), conventional aging methods fail. (The New Yorker)

Instead, scientists turned to the most immutable part of their anatomy: the lens nucleus of their eyes. The central lens proteins are metabolically inert—formed in embryonic development and essentially preserved through life. By analyzing radiocarbon content (including residual traces from atmospheric nuclear testing), researchers “timestamp” the lens’s formation and thereby approximate the animal’s age. (The New Yorker)

Maturity and reproduction: centuries to become a parent

Greenland sharks do not begin breeding in youth. In fact, sexual maturity is estimated to occur only when a female reaches lengths of over 4 meters—commonly thought to be around 156 years of age or more. (National Geographic) Some studies suggest maturity may begin at ~140 years. (Le Monde.fr) Their gestation is also believed to be very long, possibly 7 to 8 years (though precise numbers are still debated). (Le Monde.fr)

Thus, an ice-age shark may produce its first offspring while the rest of us have long turned to dust.

400 Years Old Greenland Shark 2


What Enables Such Remarkable Longevity?

How does a vertebrate persist for centuries, resisting decay while the world around it ages? Scientists have begun to uncover clues—and they challenge our assumptions about aging.

Extreme cold + slow metabolism

Greenland sharks dwell in the icy depths of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, often in waters close to freezing. Such frigid conditions slow metabolic rates, reduce biochemical turnover, and limit cumulative damage to tissues. (National Geographic)

For years, this “cold slows aging” hypothesis was the leading explanation. But new findings suggest there's more happening than just passive freezing of time.

Steady metabolism over centuries

In more recent work, researchers (such as Ewan Camplisson’s team) analyzed enzyme activity in preserved Greenland shark muscle tissues across individuals of varying ages. To their surprise, the metabolic enzyme functions showed little to no decline with age—contrary to patterns seen in most vertebrates. This suggests that Greenland sharks maintain metabolic stability over long lifespans. (ZME Science)

This finding implies that their internal aging processes are somehow suppressed, minimized, or otherwise managed differently from typical vertebrate physiology.

Genomic fortitude: DNA repair and longevity toolkit

In 2024, scientists from the University of Copenhagen disclosed that they had sequenced the Greenland shark's genome—one of the largest among sharks, at 6.5 billion base pairs. They found duplicated gene sets associated with DNA repair, suggesting that this species may have amplified molecular systems to correct damage across centuries. (science.ku.dk)

The genome also contains a high proportion of transposable elements (“jumping genes”), which often contribute to genome instability. Remarkably, rather than undermining lifespan, scientists hypothesize the shark may have evolved mechanisms to co-opt or regulate these elements, further reinforcing genomic stability. (science.ku.dk)

In short: the Greenland shark seems to combine a cold, low-stress environment with an internal molecular architecture built for longevity.

400 Years Old Greenland Shark 3


The Shark and Its World: Ecology, Behavior, and Threats

Life strategy: patience, scavenging, and depth

These sharks are often called “sleeper sharks” because of their slow pace (swim speeds as low as 0.7 mph) and deliberate lifestyle. (ocean.si.edu) Their diet is opportunistic: they scavenge marine carrion (whale carcasses, fish), prey on slower organisms (e.g., Greenland halibut, squid), and may ambush prey. (Wikipedia)

Because they inhabit deep, cold, remote waters, much of their behavior remains mysterious. Their reproduction, juvenile stages, and migration patterns are still poorly documented. (The New Yorker)

Conservation challenges

Longevity may help them survive centuries—but it also makes them vulnerable to human impacts:

  • Bycatch mortality: Greenland sharks are unintentionally caught in deep-sea fishing operations targeting cod, halibut, and other species. Since adults take centuries to reproduce, each death can have outsized impact on population recovery. (Virginia Institute of Marine Science)

  • Climate change: Warming waters and changing ocean dynamics may shrink their suitable habitat. Because they adapt slowly, rapid environmental changes could outpace their capacity to adjust. (Le Monde.fr)

  • Slow reproduction: With maturity reached only after ~140–160 years and likely long gestation, population replenishment is exceedingly slow. (Le Monde.fr)

  • Low visibility of population status: Their deep habitat, elusive behavior, and limited survey data means baseline population numbers are poorly known.

As one researcher put it, “If the species is rare, the loss of even one long-lived individual could represent a significant blow.” (National Geographic)

400 Years Old Greenland Shark 4


Symbolism, Reflection, and Humanity’s Gaze

This shark—born when sailing ships plied unexplored seas—now swims while we click screens, map genomes, and rush through life. It reminds us:

  • Time is relative. What seems long to us is brief to nature’s deep timers.

  • Longevity isn’t just survival: it’s grace, stability, and balance.

  • The natural world still hides marvels, waiting for patience to uncover them.

Perhaps the most profound thought is this: if a creature can live centuries in harmony with its world, what might we learn about living deeply, rather than quickly?

Conclusion & Call to Action

The Greenland shark stands as a living testament to what is possible when evolution, environment, and molecular resilience converge. Born centuries ago, gliding through cold darkness, surviving epochs we call history—it challenges our assumptions about life, death, and aging.

What lessons can we draw from a being so ancient? Does its pace whisper something that our fast lives cannot hear?

If this story moved you, share it and let others ponder the silent life swimming beneath ice and time. Follow for more explorations into nature’s most astonishing stories—and dive deeper into the science of longevity and the mysterious creatures that live beyond our imagination.

400 Years Old Greenland Shark 5


References & Further Reading

Tags / Keywords: Greenland shark, longevity, longest-lived vertebrate, deep sea biology, radiocarbon dating, marine science, aging, Arctic ocean, conservation, genome research

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