How Old Can a Greenland Shark Get?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How old can a Greenland shark get?

The Big Idea

A Greenland shark may live for hundreds of years! Scientists estimate some are 250 to 500 years old. That makes them the longest-living backboned animals known. Let's find out how!

Slow Swimmers

Step one: super slow swimmers. Greenland sharks swim very slowly in near-freezing water. Cold water slows their bodies, so they age very slowly. They move even slower than a person walking.

Tiny Growth

Step two: slow growth. They grow just about a centimeter a year. They do not become adults until about 150 years old. That is a very long childhood!

Estimated Age

Step three: a very old animal. Scientists estimate some are 250 to 500 years old. That is the longest life of any backboned animal known, as far as scientists can tell.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The water is near freezing, dark, and deep. The shark swims very slowly. It grows just a tiny bit each year. And it can live for hundreds of years.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A Greenland shark swimming today may have been born hundreds of years ago, long before cars or electricity. Scientists measure their age with special chemistry in the eye lens. They are very quiet, gentle swimmers. Admire sea creatures from a safe distance.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Make a paper timeline strip with 400 years ago at one end and today at the other. Mark a few events you know from history. A Greenland shark could have been alive for all of them! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Greenland sharks live hundreds of years in the cold. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!