THE FINS UNITED INITIATIVE
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact

Greenland shark

3/16/2017

 
Picture
​In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, The Fins United Initiative is proud to present the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Also known as eqalussuaq (the Inuit name; there are legends about these special sharks), this shark has recently made the news for possibly being the longest-living vertebrate. “Say whaaaat?” 
According to a paper published mid-2016 in Science, the Greenland shark could live a very long time. “I am 95% certain that the oldest of these sharks is between 272 and 512 years old,” said lead author Julius Nielsen. “That’s a big range, but even the age estimate of at least 272 years makes it the oldest vertebrate animal in the world.” The findings are not necessarily conclusive, however. Either way, it’s pretty extraordinary!
 
As Dr. David Shiffman has pointed out on Twitter, this means that there are Greenland sharks that were born in the American Revolution that may still be roaming the ocean today and Greenland sharks that were around during the US civil war are still juveniles. Finfact: The Greenland shark also has poisonous flesh that has a high urea content!
 
Found in the frigid waters of the sub-Arctic ocean, these slow-moving sharks can grow up to 20 ft (m) in length making them some of the largest on the planet. Unlike some animals who go through a growth spurt period, however, previous research has shown that they grow as little as a centimetre per year! Not unusual for cold-water animals, as growth usually slows in colder temperatures. Usually a dark brown to purple colour, they have small eyes that are often covered in parasites (some copepods are even bioluminescent). Living in the dark, they are thought to heavily rely on a sense of smell rather than eyesight to stalk out prey.
 
These sharks have been in the news for other bizarre reasons before. While these sharks normally feed on fish, two stunned onlookers stumbled upon a Greenland shark choking on the carcass of a moose in a Newfoundland Harbour (no worries, the shark was saved). Oh, and they also feed on polar bears, no biggie. On top of a variety of fish prey, they also have preyed upon other sharks, skates, eels, and seals. Known to be a scavenger, they won’t pass up any opportunity for a good meal!
 

The IUCN has assessed this shark as Near Threatened (NT).

ever heard of this shark?

glossary

  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​

say hello!

you may also like:

Picture
CARIBBEAN REEF SHARK
Picture
SOUTHERN CHIMAERA
Picture
BROWN SMOOTH HOUND

Comments are closed.

    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Subscribe to The Fins United Initiative's monthly newsletter.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORIES

    Picture
    SHARKS
    Picture
    SKATES &
    ​RAYS
    Picture
    CHIMAERA

    READER FAVORITES

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

    @finsunitedinitiative
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact