Somewhale sharksalive today have been swimming around since the Gilded Age . The animals — the largest fish in the ocean — can live as long as 130 years , according to a newstudyin the journalMarine and Freshwater Research . To give you an idea of how long that is , in 1888,Grover Clevelandwas finishing up his first presidential term , Thomas Edison had just start up sell his first luminance electric-light bulb , and the U.S. only had 38 nation .
To determine whale shark ' longevity , researchers from the Nova Southeastern University in Florida and the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program tracked male sharks around South Ari Atoll in the Maldives over the course of 10 years , calculating their size as they came back to the field over and over again . The scientists identified shark that returned to the atoll every few eld by their typical spot pattern , forecast their physical structure lengths with laser , tape , and visually to try on to get the most exact idea of their sizing .
Using these measurements and data on whale shark growth patterns , the research worker were able to determine that manlike hulk sharks lean to reach adulthood around 25 years sure-enough and populate until they ’re about 130 years older . During those decennium , they reach an average length of 61.7 metrical foot — about as long as a bowling lane .
While whale sharks areknown asgentle giants , they’redifficult to analyze , and scientist still do n’t know a short ton about them . They ’re consideredendangered , making any selective information we can gather about them important . And this is the first clip scientists have been capable to accurately measure live , swim hulk sharks .
“ Up to now , such senescence and maturation research has require obtaining vertebrae from dead whale shark and counting maturation doughnut , analogous to count tree rings , to check age , ” first writer Cameron Perry say in apress statement . ” Our employment usher that we can prevail age and outgrowth information without relying on stagnant sharks conquer in fishery . That is a self-aggrandizing deal . ”
Though hulk shark appear to be quite long - lived , their lifespan is short compared to the Greenland shark’s — in 2016 , researchersreportedthey may live for 400 geezerhood .
