GREENLAND SHARK
Somniosus microcephalus
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Size: This is a slow growing, coldwater sharks that can reach 21 feet in length. Females are
usually larger than males.
Description: The Greenland shark body is torpedo-shaped and ranges from brown to gray
to black in coloration. The snout is rounded and small with small eyes. Gill slits are overall
small and low on its sides.
Habitat: They are found in the Arctic and have been known to dive down as far as 4,000
feet deep. Due to an unusually large amount of urea (since there is no kidney) and other
chemicals acting as antifreeze, it can handle temperatures as low as 34F.
Diet: Greenland sharks mainly eat fish, such as smaller sharks, lumpfish, wolfish, herring,
and capelin. They have also found marine mammals such as seals and porpoises and even
caribou (reindeer) and pieces of polar bears in their stomachs.
Reproduction: Females carry up to 10 eggs in their uterus and give live birth. Pups can be
as long as 15 inches at birth.
Predators: No known natural predators. However, eyes are commonly parasitized by the
copepod Ommatokoita elongate that eats the cornea of its host.
Threats to species: Once fished for its liver oil, these sharks are not as highly sought after.
Status: The species count of Greenland sharks is unknown.
Did you know?
 The traditional Icelandic dish Hákarl is made from decomposed, dried Greenland shark
meat. In order to remove the urea and toxins from the meat for consumption, the meat is
cut into chunks and placed in a shallow hole in the ground and covered in sand and
gravel (or modernly placed into containers with drain holes) to rot for 6-8 weeks. After
this, they are hung to dry for several months. It takes approximately 6 months from start
to finish. It is said to taste like ammonia and is paired with the firewater Brennivín (or
‘black death’) which is said to be the only drink strong enough to wash out the taste.
http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/shark/english/greenland.htm;
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/Greenlandshark/Greenlandshark.html;
http://dsc.discovery.com/sharks/greenland-shark.html