A Greenland shark alive today could be over 400 years old – swimming since the 1600s

Move over, bowhead whales! Scientists have discovered a new longevity champion: the Greenland shark. Using a technique borrowed from forensic science, researchers have determined that these deep-sea denizens can live for an astounding 400 years, making them the longest-living vertebrates on Earth. Their slow metabolism, frigid habitat, and scavenging lifestyle likely contribute to their remarkable lifespan.