As per the paper 'Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)' published in the journal Science (Published 12/08/2016) - an international team of scientists led by the University of Copenhagen has found that the Greenland shark has a life expectancy of at least 272 years. This discovery shows it is the longest living vertebrate known to science, exceeding even bowhead whales, turtles and tortoises.