Greenland Sharks

The Arctic and North Atlantic waters are home to Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) - one of the longest living animals in the world. According to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory(opens in new tab), they may grow to be 24 feet (7.3 meters) long and eat a range of other creatures, including fish and marine mammals such as seals.

According to a 2016 study on Greenland shark eye tissue published in the journal Science, these sharks may live for at least 272 years. According to Live Science, the oldest shark in that study was assessed to be 392 years old, and the researchers speculated that the sharks may have been as old as 512 years old. The age estimations were subject to some error, but even the lowest estimate of 272 years makes these sharks the oldest surviving animals on the planet.

Age: 272+ years old