Posted on 08/12/2016 12:42:21 PM PDT by JimSEA
We tend to think of vertebrates as living about as long as we do, give or take 50 to 100 years. Marine species are likely to be very long-lived, but determining their age is particularly difficult. Nielsen et al. used the pulse of carbon-14 produced by nuclear tests in the 1950s—specifically, its incorporation into the eye during development—to determine the age of Greenland sharks. This species is large yet slow-growing. The oldest of the animals that they sampled had lived for nearly 400 years, and they conclude that the species reaches maturity at about 150 years of age.
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an iconic species of the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reaches >500 centimeters (cm) in total length, suggesting a life span well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks (81 to 502 cm in total length) revealed a life span of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (220 cm or less) showed signs of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. The age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as midpoint and extent of the 95.4% probability range) revealed the age at sexual maturity to be at least 156 ± 22 years, and the largest animal (502 cm) to be 392 ± 120 years old. Our results show that the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and they raise concerns about species conservation.
Good thing I wasn't a teenager for 50 years.
Did you know that with evolution, the octopus lost the nostrils and took on the more familiar look that we know today? If you look closely you can see a little bump where the nose use to be.
Wow, those sharks are like turtles of the sea, or something.
Fish oil?
Swim, eat, repeat.... for 146,000 days in a row.
Don’t forget that while you have to have a source for Vitamin C, your dog makes his own. while living in the trees with fruit aplenty, early humans lost the ability to do the same in an example of ‘use it or lose it.’
Can’t be much brain power there.
When you put it that way, it seems likely it would eventually die of boredom
The Greenland shark doesn't urinate, per se, having no urinary tract.
Hence, when being prepped for hkarl, the shark is first left to rot in a gravel pit for weeks or months, depending on the season, so as to allow the most toxic of the flesh to decay and fall off.
Apparently, the finished product still has an overwhelming "hint" of ammonia.
Oh, and as far as the eyes, the shark goes blind earlier on, thanks to the parasite visible in the eye in the picture of post #5.
It has evolved a highly developed sense of smell to hunt with.
Oh, and the upper/lower teeth are completely different. One set grabs, while the other saws on the horizontal axis.
Good grief. Live and learn. It sounds horrible. http://www.meemalee.com/2010/12/hakarl-rotten-shark-worst-thing-i-have.html
Must...not...make...inappropriate...comment...about...photo...
Just say it!
Some believe the Greenland Shark is the creature that has been seen, and called the Lochness Monster. The very small dorsal fin makes the shark appear very snake like.
I forgot to mention the hkarl artisans have restrictions on how close they can process near populated areas.
I understand completely.
Like a Pogie processing plant?
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