The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), also known as the gurry shark or grey shark, is a large shark of the family Somniosidae ("sleeper sharks"), closely related to the Pacific and southern sleeper sharks.[2] Inhabiting the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, they are notable for their exceptional longevity, although they are poorly studied due to the depth and remoteness of their natural habitat.
Greenland sharks have the longest lifespan of any known vertebrate, estimated to be between 250 and 500 years.[3] They are among the largest extant species of shark, usually growing to between 2.4 and 7 m (7.9 and 23.0 ft) long and weighing between 400 and 1,400 kg (880 and 3,090 lb). They reach sexual maturity at about 150 years of age, and their pups are born alive after an estimated gestation period of 8 to 18 years.
The shark is a generalist feeder, consuming a variety of available foods.[4]
Greenland shark meat is toxic to mammals due to its high levels of trimethylamine N-oxide,[5] although a treated form of it is eaten in Iceland as a delicacy known as kæstur hákarl.[6] Because they live deep in remote parts of the northern oceans, Greenland sharks are not considered a threat to humans, and no recorded attacks have ever occurred.
^Kulka, D.W.; Cotton, C.F.; Anderson, B.; Derrick, D.; Herman, K.; Dulvy, N.K. (2020). "Somniosus microcephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T60213A124452872. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T60213A124452872.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Yano, Kazunari; Stevens, John D.; Compagno, Leonard J.V. (2004). "A review of the systematics of the sleeper shark genus Somniosus with redescriptions of Somniosus (Somniosus) antarcticus and Somniosus (Rhinoscymnus) longus (Squaliformes: Somniosidae)". Ichthyological Research. 51 (4): 360–373. Bibcode:2004IchtR..51..360Y. doi:10.1007/s10228-004-0244-4. S2CID 38054192.
^"How long do Greenland sharks live?". National Ocean Service. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference Nielsen-Hedeholm-etal-2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Anthoni, Uffe; Christophersen, Carsten; Gram, Lone; Nielsen, Niels H.; Nielsen, Per (1991). "Poisonings from flesh of the Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus may be due to trimethylamine". Toxicon. 29 (10): 1205–1212. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(91)90193-U. PMID 1801314.
^Durst, Sidra (2012). "Hákarl". In Deutsch, Jonathan; Murakhver, Natalya (eds.). They Eat That? A cultural encyclopedia of weird and exotic food from around the world. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-0-313-38059-4.
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