Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark)

Whitley, 1939

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Squalomorphii > Squaliformes > Somniosidae

Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A gigantic deepwater, heavy-bodied shark with small low, spineless dorsal fins, a moderately long rounded snout, a long lower caudal lobe, small unicuspid upper teeth, and moderate-sized, bent-cusped, lower slicing teeth. Colour medium grey or brown, sometimes with transverse dark bands or small light spots.

Size

To 4.4 m here, elsewhere reaches 6.4 to 7.3 m TL.

Range

West coast off Cape Columbine; elsewhere North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and scattered records in the southern hemisphere.

Habitat

In the area, slope near the bottom at 677 m deep.

Biology

Rare in the area, 1 known specimen. Elsewhere this huge sluggish shark is common and apparently can capture large and active prey, including pelagic and bottom fish, sharks, skates, seals, and small cetaceans, also octopus and squid.

Human Impact

None, fished elsewhere for liver oil and meat.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale