In Greenland a shark The animal surviving in deep waters was thought to be the oldest animal on Earth as it is around 391 years old according to the analyzes of marine animals.
The result of its age was determined after an analysis of the outer layer of the animal’s eyes. Julius Nielsen, a biologist at the University of Copenhagen, was responsible for conducting the studies. According to the biologist, animals of the same species as the shark live between 272 and 512 years.
How was the experiment conducted?
Image: planetary connection
The biologist made a experiment featuring 28 female sharks accidentally dying during a fish surveillance program.
During the research, Nielsen analyzed the creature’s eyes, the inner part of which contains radiocarbon. Radiocarbon has a lens that grows throughout its life, and as it ages, a new lens layer forms the shark’s eye.
The specialists removed each of the lenses until they reached the embryonic nucleus, which has existed since the animal’s youth. By analyzing the chemical composition of this tissue, conclusions could then be drawn about the age of the animal. This proved that the 28 female sharks were around 272 years old.
In one of his lectures, the biologist revealed what made the research successful:
“The secret of the success of this study was that we had young and old animals, medium and large animals, and the ability to compare them all” — Nielsen.
According to research, the oldest land shark may have been found in Greenland survived so long, because it lives in very deep and very cold water, so the animal’s metabolism is slow and its body temperature is reduced, these physical conditions of the animal produce less tissue damage.
After studying and discovering the animal, the biologist explained that it must be protected because it is a rare species with such an old age. There are a lot of problems they make conservation this animal is not so easy.
We can cite some of the aspects that make the shark’s life a little complicated to protect. For example, females are not ready to reproduce until they are 156 years old, and the delay in reaching sexual maturity affects the species’ reproduction, making it even rarer.
Another aspect is the fishermen in the area and climate change, although fishing for these animals is prohibited, there are many illegal practices. Not to mention that natural issues like climate change and reproduction are not factors we can control.
Ecologist Aaron Fisk, who was involved in the experiment, said it is very important that people understand how bad the problem is protection ecosystems is serious.
“Longevity is remarkable, but I hope the public will recognize the importance of this fact when it comes to ecosystem management and conservation. If Greenland sharks live and do not breed until they are 150 years old, their population is vulnerable to exploitation” Aaron Fisk
Watch a video below showing a rarity filming of the shark in the Canadian Arctic.