An image that went viral showed a Greenland shark that is thought to be 392 years old.
The shark shown in the picture is a Greenland shark, a species that lives in the Arctic and can live for a very long time. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered in a study conducted in 2016 that these sharks can live for 400 to 500 years.
It is not known if the shark in the photograph is the same one from the research that was believed to be 392 years old, with a margin of error of 120 years, when the results were released in 2016.
During the spring of 2024, an image surfaced suggesting that a Greenland shark depicted was born prior to the Revolutionary War.
A recent Facebook post stated that a Greenland Shark, aged 393 years old, was found in the Arctic Ocean. According to the post, the shark has been swimming in the ocean since 1627, making it the oldest known living vertebrate on Earth.
The claim about the age of the shark was also shared on social media platforms like X (previously Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok in March and April 2024. Most posts mentioned the shark’s age as 392 years, not 393. This claim had also circulated on social media platforms in August 2020.
In December 2018, we identified a familiar post as “mostly false” and recently rated a newer variation as “mixture” because it featured a photograph of a Greenland shark circulating in 2020. The exact age of the shark in the image was unknown, but the age of a Greenland shark can be estimated based on its length.
Two popular internet trends were inspired by a research article published in the Science journal in August 2016. The study, conducted by Julius Nielsen, a Ph.D. student at the University of Copenhagen at the time, aimed to investigate the life history of the Greenland shark, scientifically known as Somniosus microcephalus. These deep-sea creatures are considered iconic species in the Arctic waters and are still a mystery to scientists due to their remarkable ability to survive at depths of at least 7,200 feet.
In 2016, when the research was initially revealed, it gained attention from various mainstream media outlets who claimed that the Greenland shark was the longest-living vertebrate on Earth. Since then, different versions of the photograph and information about the shark’s age have resurfaced through various channels. A reverse image search uncovered 56 instances of the image from as early as 2018. Due to another wave of social media popularity, Nielsen used Instagram in December 2017 to clarify misconceptions about the shark’s age.
There is a lot of excitement on social media about old Greenland sharks these days. However, it’s important to clarify that this is not a new story – it originally came to light in August 2016. There have been claims of sharks being 600 or 500 years old, but these numbers are not confirmed. The age of one shark has been estimated to be at least 272 years old, but this estimate has not been verified. In more detail, this particular shark is believed to be between 272-512 years old with 95.5% certainty, although this is also an unconfirmed estimate.
During a three-year project focusing on the biology of the Greenland shark, researchers used radiocarbon dating to estimate the ages of 28 sharks that were unintentionally caught as by-catch over multiple years. The results indicated that this species, known for maturing slowly, grows at a rate of approximately 0.4 inches per year and can grow to lengths exceeding 16 feet. The biggest shark examined during the study measured close to 16.5 feet and was estimated to be approximately 392 years old in 2016, making her around 396 years old in August 2020.
Radiocarbon dating studies usually provide age ranges rather than precise ages. By analyzing 28 female Greenland sharks ranging from 2.5 to 16.5 feet in length, researchers estimated that the average lifespan of the species is at least 272 years. If the sharks grew at a rate of .4 inches per year, the oldest shark would be approximately 502 years old. However, range estimates suggest that the oldest shark was more likely around 392 years old, with a margin of error of 120 years.
According to a press release from the University of Copenhagen, Greenland sharks are considered one of the biggest meat-eating sharks in the world and play a significant role as the top predator in the Arctic environment. These sharks can grow up to 24 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds.
It is not known if the shark in the meme is the same one mentioned in the research about a large shark, or if it is a different one. The photograph shows a long-lived Greenland shark, but the exact age of the shark is not clearly stated in the research.
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