Greenland Shark

Overview

The Greenland shark is a heavy-bodied, slow-moving predator known for its remarkable longevity, ranking among the longest-lived vertebrates on Earth. Inhabiting frigid polar and subpolar seas, this species grows at an exceptionally sluggish pace and reaches sexual maturity only after decades or even centuries of life. Despite its sluggish demeanor, it is a formidable apex predator in its native cold-water ecosystem.

Appearance

This species features a bulky, robust body with a short, rounded snout and small, low dorsal fins. Its coloration typically ranges from dark brown to medium grey, occasionally marked with faint light spots or dark transverse bands. The eyes are characteristically small and frequently infested with parasitic copepods, which can impair vision and give the eyes a cloudy or opaque appearance.

Biology & behavior

Metabolic and growth rates in this species are remarkably slow, enabling lifespans that can span centuries. Because of the cold temperatures of its preferred environment, it swims at very low speeds, earning sleeper sharks their common family moniker. It reproduces via internal fertilization, producing small litters of relatively well-developed pups.

Feeding

The diet of the Greenland shark is opportunistic and diverse, consisting of various bony fish, smaller sharks, skates, squids, and crabs. Despite its sluggish swimming speed, it is capable of scavenging or ambushing marine mammals such as seals, and stomach contents have occasionally included carrion from terrestrial animals.