ClassificationKingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata Class - Chondrichthyes Order - Squaliformes Family - Somniosidae Genus - Somniosus Species Microcephalus
This shark is an elusive species of dogfish that can be found in Arctic and Northern atlantic waters.
This shark is usually found in deeper waters - 6,561 feet. The Greenland Shark can also be found off of the coast of Nova Scotia. |
Morphology/BiologyThe Greenland sharks max length is about 7 meters and can weigh up to 2000 lbs maximum.
Has small dorsal fins and is called the large sleeper shark because of its sluggish movements. A variety of colors can paint this animal from brown to black to grey, although their skin is often slashed with dark lines or splotched with white spots. Has small pin like teeth in its upper jaw but has larger blade like teeth for it's bottom jaw. Has a small eye and is commonly invaded with parasites which give this creature horrible vision and in return slower actions at times. The greenland shark is assymetrical because of its caudal fin Has a large diet of several fish such as: capelin, char, halibut, herring, lumpfish and salmon. Also eats other sea creatures like: seals, sea lions and cetaceans. The Greenland shark is ovoviparous and has about 10 babies at a time which come out about 15 inches in length. |
Ecological/Economical Importance
Was previously fished in Norway, Greenland, and Iceland for its liver oil. It's meat is relatively poisonous so it cannot be eaten unless boiled several times. Infamous for killing off several seals yearly, and causing a dramatic drop in the seal population.
Interesting FactsIt is believed that the largest of the Greenland sharks surpass the great white shark in length.
Incredibly these sharks have even been known to eat mammals such as polar bears and reindeer. The flesh of this shark is part of a national dish eaten in Iceland. They call it hakari To tear apart its prey the greenland shark swings its head in a circular pattern and slices its victims flesh clean off. 0.3 meters a second is the average speed of this very slow animal. |
Vocabulary
Dorsal - In relations to the back or upper surface of an animal
Assymetrical - The inability to be equally divided,
Ovoviparous - Describes an animal that has eggs in it's body where the babies will hatch
Elusive - Hard to find and capture, easily able to slip away
Infamous - Deserving and causing oneself to have a bad reputation
Assymetrical - The inability to be equally divided,
Ovoviparous - Describes an animal that has eggs in it's body where the babies will hatch
Elusive - Hard to find and capture, easily able to slip away
Infamous - Deserving and causing oneself to have a bad reputation