Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus).
Science
; 353(6300): 702-4, 2016 Aug 12.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27516602
ABSTRACT
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an iconic species of the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reaches >500 centimeters (cm) in total length, suggesting a life span well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks (81 to 502 cm in total length) revealed a life span of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (220 cm or less) showed signs of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. The age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as midpoint and extent of the 95.4% probability range) revealed the age at sexual maturity to be at least 156 ± 22 years, and the largest animal (502 cm) to be 392 ± 120 years old. Our results show that the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and they raise concerns about species conservation.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tiburones
/
Datación Radiométrica
/
Cristalino
/
Longevidad
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
/
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Science
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article