Researchers have recently announced findings that indicate that Great White Sharks can live up to 70 years in the wild. These massive sea-dwelling predators have been the subject of both fear and admiration but many mysteries about this majestic creature still remains.
According to the researchers working on the study, they were able to determine the age of a known specimen of the Great White Shark using a new technique. The process uses tissue samples from sharks to estimate how old the specimen is. The findings also hold great importance for science as well as for conservation efforts targeting sharks in the wild.
The study indicated that the largest female shark in the sample group was around 40 years old while the largest male shark was an astounding 73 years old. Counting bands deposited in a shark's vertebrae, similar to how the age of trees are determined, usually determine the ages of sharks. However, the accuracy of this method is debated due to the fact that scientists are uncertain whether it takes approximately one year for a new growth band to be deposited. In the new study however, researchers used a new technique involving radiocarbon dating.
The study, which was published in PLOS One, was the result of a collaborative effort between researchers hailing from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the MIT..
"These creatures are amazing and it's fascinating to study them," says researcher Li Ling Hamady. "Everyone thinks they know these animals so well, and the public perception is that they're either loved or hated. But in terms of science, we're only just now beginning to understand what they eat, where they go and how long they live."
"Conservation and management efforts for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) remain hampered by a lack of basic demographic information including age and growth rates," says the team in the study.
Accurate knowledge about the natural lifespan of an animal is essential to coming up with conservation strategies for specific species. Knowing about the maximum lifespan of an animal sheds light on important matters such as rate of growth, the onset of sexual maturity as well as the different habits of animals throughout different periods of their natural lifespans. The lack of knowledge about these factors can severely hamper conservation efforts worldwide.
