Think you're getting old? New study says Michigan sturgeon may live to 400

A new study suggests Michigan lake sturgeon may live far longer than previously documented, potentially reaching 300 or even 400 years. Researchers analyzed 44 years of data from five Great Lakes populations, using growth rates rather than traditional aging methods. The work was published in the Journal of Fish Biology and estimated lifespans by tracking how slowly sturgeon grow over decades after tagging and re-catching individuals. For a 160-centimeter male, estimates ranged from 90 to 279 years; for 180-centimeter females, from 99 to 427. The study addresses limits of fin-spine growth-ring counting as rings compress with age.