The Greenland shark is capable of sneaking up on its live prey or scavenging a variety of dead animals, including other types of sharks, seals, drowning horses and polar bears. Greenland sharks are rarely encountered by humans so scientists still have a lot to learn about their lifestyle.
Greenland sharks, according to the St Lawrence Shark Observatory (ORS), can grow to 7.3 meters (24 feet) and weigh up to 1,200 kilograms (2,645 pounds). This fact indicates that the Greenland Shark is longer than the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), which is estimated to grow up to 6 meters (20 ft) in length.
The Greenland shark has a cylindrical body covered in tooth-like scales, called dermal denticles. This special body shape reduces drag and helps move more still in the water. Grenland sharks can be black, brown, gray or a mix of the three colors, and some have spots on the skin. (Read also; Protected by Thousands of Tiny Teeth, the Giant Whale Shark Has Armored Eyeballs )
“The mouth of the Greenland shark has 48 to 52 teeth in its upper jaw and 50 to 52 teeth in its lower jaw. The upper teeth are pointed, to help the sharks hold on to larger food, while the lower teeth are wide and curved to the side,” explained ORS as quoted by SINDOnews from the livescience page, Sunday (9/1/2022).
This shape of the teeth allows the Greenland Shark to carve round pieces of flesh from its prey by moving their heads in a circular motion. Fortunately, to date, there have been no verified reports of Greenland Shark attacks on humans.
One of the features of the Greenland Shark is its long life span. A 2016 study published in the journal Science estimated the Greenland shark to have a maximum life span of at least 272 years. (Read also; Leopard Seals Proven Capable Of Eating Sharks )
The researchers estimate the oldest Greenland shark in the study to be around 392 years old, but that estimate has a margin of error of 120 years. This has led to speculation that the Greenland Shark can live up to 512 years. This life expectancy has not been verified.
“It’s important to remember that there is some uncertainty with this estimated life span. But the lowest estimate of the age range, at least 272 years, still makes the Greenland Shark the longest-living vertebrate,” Julius Nielsen, author of the 2016 Greenland Shark study, told Live Science.
Unprocessed Greenland shark meat because it is toxic to humans. Greenland shark meat contains high levels of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which breaks down into the toxic compound trimethylamine (TMA) during digestion.
According to a 1991 study published in the journal Toxicon, TMA can cause severe intestinal problems and produce effects similar to excessive alcohol consumption. (Read also; How Sharks Reproduce, Divided into Three Different Processes )
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