ExploreFish

Greenland Shark

Somniosus microcephalus

The Greenland Shark is a mysterious sea creature that lives in the cold waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic. It's one of the slowest sharks, but can live for hundreds of years!

Habitat: Marine

Appearance

The Greenland Shark is a large, robust shark with a blunt snout and strikingly small, often cloudy eyes. It typically has a greyish-brown to black coloration, often appearing mottled or scarred from its deep-sea life.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderSqualiformesFamilySomniosidaeGenusSomniosus

Greenland Shark

Interesting facts

It's nearly blind, relying on its strong sense of smell to hunt.

Its raw flesh is toxic but can be eaten after special preparation!

Many sharks have a glowing eye parasite attached to their cornea!

Scientists determine its age by studying specific parts of its eyes.

Special abilities

Greenland Shark can live over 500 years because of an extremely slow metabolism that helps them age at a glacial pace.

Greenland Shark can survive freezing Arctic waters because of special chemical compounds in its blood that act like natural antifreeze.

Greenland Shark has a unique chemical called urea in its body that helps it handle extreme pressure at crushing deep-sea depths.

Measurements & details

Length: 240-730 cm
Weight: 250-1000 kg
Lifespan: 272-500 years
Swim Speed: 2 km/h
Max Depth: 2200 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

This slow-moving shark eats a variety of prey, mostly fish and seals, even hunting while 'asleep'!

Age differences: Young sharks eat smaller fish and invertebrates, while adults target larger fish and marine mammals.

Primary Foods

Arctic Cod
Halibut
Ringed Seal
Squid
Scavenged Carcasses

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Ringed Seal

Pusa hispida

A primary food source in its Arctic habitat.

eaten by

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

A common fish prey found in its deep-sea range.

eaten by

Bearded Seal

Erignathus barbatus

Another large marine mammal occasionally preyed upon.

Traits

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Thermoregulating

Learn about incredible animals that can keep their body temperature just right, no matter how hot or cold it gets outside! They have special ways to stay warm or cool.

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!

Ancient Lineage

These fascinating organisms carry echoes of the deep past, with ancestors that have roamed the Earth for an incredible span of time. They are living links to ancient worlds!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Aquatic

Discover amazing creatures that call water their home, whether it's oceans, rivers, or lakes! These habitats are full of incredible life.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.

Nocturnal

Explore the secret world of animals that come alive at night! They are wide awake when it's dark, using their amazing senses to find food and play.

Venomous

Be amazed by animals that can inject special substances to defend themselves or catch their food! They deliver their potent dose through a bite or a sting.