200-Year-Old Rockfish: Ichthyologists Predict Specimen's Age by Otolith Examination

Some might have nicknamed this sea creature the 'rock of ages,' if it wasn't hooked up by a fisherman while unknowingly taking it's last romp around the waters.

According to fisherman Henry Liebman who was just spending a day on the Alaskan coast, a tug at his fishing line would bring in a fish of massive weight and size. In fact, lab tests show that the fish he caught now sets the record for the oldest shortraker rockfish. The previous record holder was 150 years old, while Liebman's specimen comes in at 200. (Wow!) And this sea creature tipped the scales at a whopping 39.08 pounds. (Although, apparently these guys can even hit 50 pounds.)

Liebman boasts that this dead fish will be mounted on his wall to show visitors the heroic and historic capture.

But how exactly could ichthyologists predict this fishes' age?  Scientists estimated the age of the fish using the ear bone, otherwise known as the otolith, which contains growth rings much like the rings inside a tree trunk, according to Live Science. Studying the markings in the ear helped determine the age of the creature through various analysis. 

As animal longevity remains a mystery to many biologists who estimate that smaller animals may live longer because they are less at risk for various diseases, the rockfish, a creature found to be one of the largest specimens ever, does not follow this supposition.

What do you think?