One Danish scientist, Julius Nielsen, has recently discovered a creature, in the North Atlantic Ocean, which is said to be 18 feet long and 512 years old. It's a shark and now it is believed to be the oldest living vertebrate in the world.
Vertebrates are the animals that have backbones. According to a report in Daily Star, experts estimated that the shark might have been born in the year 1505. Just about the next year, in 1506 Leonardo da Vinci had completed his iconic painting the Mona Lisa. Now you know how ancient this creature is!
Greenland sharks grow just about one cm per year, as per scientific journal Science. So, when the scientist discovered one astonishing 18 feet long Greenland shark, he knew it has to be exceptionally old.
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Following the discovery, the scientists made use of the radiocarbon dating technology to examine 28 different Greenland shark's eye lenses and find out that the oldest one, discovered previously, is around 392 years old.
If it's true, this Greenland shark will have survived through several historic moments throughout the centuries, such as the discovery of the United States and many more.
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Greenland shark is a delicacy in Iceland; however, it's also toxic. The flesh of these sharks contains a certain type of chemical, which once consumed gives a similar sensation to being extremely drunk.
