# 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! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Marine - **Also known as:** Grey Shark, Sleeper Shark ![Greenland Shark](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426942/objects/6137.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Squaliformes - **Family:** Somniosidae - **Genus:** Somniosus ## 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 - **Long Life Secret:** Greenland Shark can live over 500 years because of an extremely slow metabolism that helps them age at a glacial pace. - **Icy Blood:** Greenland Shark can survive freezing Arctic waters because of special chemical compounds in its blood that act like natural antifreeze. - **Deep Dive Master:** 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 - **Maximum 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ringed-seal) (*Pusa hispida*) — A primary food source in its Arctic habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Atlantic Cod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-cod) (*Gadus morhua*) — A common fish prey found in its deep-sea range. - **Eaten by:** [Bearded Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bearded-seal) (*Erignathus barbatus*) — Another large marine mammal occasionally preyed upon. ## Traits - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Greenland Sharks are not typically encountered by people, but if you see one, it's best to observe from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Greenland Shark? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Greenland Shark? 240-730 cm ### How much does Greenland Shark weigh? 250-1000 kg ### How long does Greenland Shark live? 272-500 years ### What does Greenland Shark eat? This slow-moving shark eats a variety of prey, mostly fish and seals, even hunting while 'asleep'! ### How fast can Greenland Shark swim? 2 km/h ### Where is Greenland Shark usually found? Marine ### How does Greenland Shark hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Greenland Shark: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greenland-shark)