A Greenland shark studied in 2016 was estimated to be nearly 400 years old, meaning it may have been born around the time Shakespeare’s era was ending — and, astonishingly, would not have reached sexual maturity for more than another century.

A 2016 study radiocarbon-dated Greenland shark eye lenses; the largest came out at about 392 years old, with a margin of 120 years either way, making it the longest-lived vertebrate known. It would not have reached sexual maturity until around 150. The numbers, and their uncertainty. The post A Greenland shark studied in 2016 was estimated to be nearly 400 years old, meaning it may have been born around the time Shakespeare’s era was ending — and, astonishingly, would not have reached sexual mat