There are several species of animals that can live much longer than a human being, such as tortoises and tortoises, which are reptiles capable of reaching impressive ages. However, the title of oldest animal of the world belongs to another type of creature.
This species has witnessed memorable historical events, such as the French Revolution, World War II and the fall of the Twin Towers.
Being able to live for more than 400 years, the Greenland shark is the absolute champion when it comes to longevity.
Despite its name, it is not only found in Greenlandbut it has also been seen in the warm waters west of the Caribbean area.
Next, we will learn everything about this long-lived and impressive form of life.
Borel shark: an ancient of the oceans
Greenland shark swimming in the ocean – Image: YouTube/Reproduction
Many people still don’t know, but sharks They are, in fact, a species of fish.
The only difference they have in relation to their more peaceful peers is their carnivorous diet and their skeleton made up of cartilage, which resembles the shape of sandpaper.
In fact, according to biologists, the morphology of these animals has not changed since prehistoryso these predators did not need major adaptations to remain alive and at the top of the food chain in the waters.
The boreal shark is known for living in very cold and deep waters. Therefore, its sighting is extremely rare and there are few records currently.
This is one of the reasons why this species is little studied compared to other more popular ones, such as the great white shark, for example.
Thanks to your longevity, size and weight, it is known for being a very slow fish. This characteristic is reflected even in its scientific name, Somniosus microcephaluswhich means “small-headed sleepy”.
According to BBC News, the age of these animals can only be measured by scientists through radiocarbon tests.
During research, experts estimated that a female was around an impressive 518 years old!
Despite being carnivorous, these fish do not pose a danger to humans, preferring to feed on dead animals.
