Greenland shark

📖 Overview

Found on continental and insular shelves and upper slopes down to at least 1,200 m and to as deep as 2,200 m . Epibenthic-pelagic . In the Arctic and boreal Atlantic, it occurs inshore in the intertidal and at the surface in shallow bays and river mouths during colder months, retreating to depths of 180-550 m when the temperature rises . Reported to be found in temperatures from -1.8° to 17.2°C but commonly below 5°C with salinity range of 29.4-35.5. It can undertake long migrations . Feeds on pelagic and bottom fishes (herring, Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, capelin, redfish, sculpins, lumpfish, cod, haddock, Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut and skates , sharks and skates , seals and small cetaceans, sea birds, squids, crabs, amphipods, marine snails, brittle stars, sea urchins, and jellyfish . Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 caught female Greenland sharks (81-502 cm TL) revealed a life span of at least 272 years, the oldest being nearly 400 years; age of sexual maturity is about 150 years. This large species is slow-growing . Petromyzon marinus was reported to have been attached to S. microcephalus . Ovoviviparous . Utilized fresh and dried for human and sled-dog food (flesh is said to be toxic when fresh); Inuit also used the skin to make boots, and the sharp lower dental bands as knives for cutting hair . A very sluggish shark . Reports in literature of lengths exceeding 640 cm TL (e.g. up to 730 cm TL in Ref. 247) remain unverified. Common length 244-427 cm TL .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Vertebrae: 41 - 44. A gigantic, heavily-bodied dogfish shark with a moderately long, rounded snout and small, low dorsal fins; lower caudal lobe long; upper jaw with small single-cusped teeth and lower jaw with moderate-sized, bent-cusped, slicing teeth . Medium grey or brown in color, sometimes with transverse dark bands or small light spots .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Greenland shark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Ovoviviparous . Distinct pairing with embrace .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 2992 m , usually 200 - 600 m . Boreal; -2°C - 17°C ; 83°N - 27°N, 95°W - 61°E North Atlantic from the USA and Canada to Greenland in the west and from Portugal to the Barents Sea and Eastern Siberian Sea.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

⚠️ Venom Profile

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

🎣 Angling Guide

📊 Population Dynamics

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

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