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
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Greenland Shark

Category

Fish

Rarity

Rare

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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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

Ability

Long Life Secret

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

Ability

Icy Blood

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

Ability

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

Traits

Also known as

Grey SharkSleeper Shark

Collections

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 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

How deep can Greenland Shark go?

2200 m

Snap Map

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