Researchers in Cornwall got a rare chance to study one of the creatures
THE world’s “most mysterious” shark that lives for 400 years has been spotted lurking off the UK’s coast.
Greenland sharks are have conquered longevity to the point they could hold the key to extending human lives as well.
These prehistoric beasts have cruised the deep sea for around 100 million years.
They are also enormous, clocking in as the second-biggest carnivorous shark – surpassed only by Great Whites.
Greenland sharks also go by the name “sleeper sharks” – a nod to their rather sluggish ways.
They swim incredibly slowly, often seeming to just drift through the water, in order to preserve energy.
In fact, the dozy predators coast at an average of just 0.76mph.
Despite their pedestrian pace, and most of them being blind, the sharks manage to catch a range of prey – including seals.
They float stealthily towards their victims and employ a sudden burst of speed to ambush them.
Greenland shark tend to stick to deep waters, down to about 2000m, so humans rarely encounter them.
Incredibly, no footage of them swimming in their natural habitat had ever been captured until 2003.
Nonetheless, they are known to hang around the UK’s coast – and Brits have made confirmed sightings.
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The sharks are often touted as the world’s most mysterious, because relatively little is known about them.
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However, a breakthrough came in 2016 when researchers at the University of Copenhagen found a way to accurately calculate the shark’s lifespan.
They used radiocarbon dating to examine proteins in the lens of the eyes of 28 individuals.
From that, they were able to say the largest was between 272 and 512 years old – with 390 being the most likely figure.
That would make Greenland sharks comfortably the longest-living vertebrate on Earth.
It could also suggest they must reach 156 years-old before being able to reproduce.
Brits got up close and personal with one of the elusive giants in 2022, when a 100-year-old specimen got stranded on a beach in Cornwall.
She was released back into the sea but later found dead, offering a rare opportunity for an autopsy by the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team.
In fact, the scientists believe it was the first-ever autopsy of a Greenland shark on UK soil.
Rob Deaville, project lead, said: “This unfortunate and extraordinary stranding has allowed us to get an insight into the life and death of a species we know little about.
“Discovering that this shark had meningitis is likely a world first, but the significance of this in terms of any wider stressors is unknown.
“Ultimately, like most marine life, deep-sea species such as Greenland sharks may also be impacted by human pressures on the ocean but there is not enough evidence at this stage to make any connections.
“Huge thanks are owed to the volunteers of Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and all those who spotted and brought the body to shore.
“This was an exceptional collaborative effort by all involved and was a unique opportunity to learn more about the life of this cryptic and endangered deep-water shark.”
Scientists believe they can learn from Greenland sharks’ physiology to learn how to extend human lives.
For example, they think the sharks have a special DNA repair system which lets them reach incredible ages.
