Greenland shark  (Somniosus microcephalus)

Classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Amongst the world’s largest sharks, the Greenland shark is an elusive species of dogfish that inhabits the icy waters of the Arctic and the northern Atlantic (1) (2) (3). Also known as the large sleeper shark for its sluggish movements, the body is heavy-set, the spineless dorsal fins are greatly reduced, and the snout is short and rounded (2) (4). For a shark of its size, the gill slits are also notably small, and located low on the side of the head (3) (4). Although this shark’s colouration ranges from brown to black to grey, the skin is often marked with dark lines or white spots, whilst the entire body is covered in closely packed, teeth-like denticles (4).

The Greenland shark occurs in the northern Atlantic and Arctic oceans (1).

During the cold winter months the Greenland shark moves inshore in search of warmer waters, and is often seen near the surface in shallow bays and river mouths. In the summer, it generally returns to deeper water between 180 and 550 metres, but has been recorded down to 2,200 metres (1) (4).

Despite being a characteristically sluggish species, the Greenland shark is known to feed on an incredibly wide variety of prey, including relatively large and active species of fish, seals and even cetaceans (2) (4). Other food items include seabirds, squid, crustaceans and molluscs, as well as all sorts of carrion and offal, making it a regular visitor to the waters around whaling stations and fishing operations (2). Somewhat bizarrely, even parts of horses and entire reindeer have been found in the stomachs of some large Greenland sharks (2) (4).

Almost all Greenland sharks are parasitized by a strange copepod that attaches itself to the shark’s corneas, over time severely damaging its eyesight. However, given that this shark spends much of its time at depths where light does not penetrate, it probably has little use for its small eyes. In the past, it has been speculated that the copepod may act as a fishing lure to attract the shark’s prey, but there is currently no scientific evidence for this theory (2) (3) (4).

The Greenland shark appears to be a long-lived, late maturing and slow growing species (1) (4). It reproduces ovoviviparously, with the female carrying a large number of soft-shelled eggs before giving birth to live young (2) (4).

Historically, the Greenland shark was significantly targeted by shark liver fisheries in the waters of Greenland, Norway and Iceland. Although commercial fishing for Greenland shark liver oil ceased in the 1960s, this species is still frequently taken as bycatch in other fisheries, and also caught for human and sled dog consumption. The meat is toxic when fresh, inducing a drunk like state in both humans and dogs, but becomes edible once it has been dried. Unfortunately, the extent to which fishing is affecting the Greenland shark population is unknown, but there is speculation that its population could be declining, particularly given the shark’s slow growth rate (1) (2) (4).

The current priority is to accurately assess historical catch data for the Greenland shark in order to determine whether its population is actually declining, and to monitor bycatch rates within the various fisheries that overlap its range (1).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

To find out more about the conservation of rays and sharks, see:

• Save Our Seas Foundation:
  www.saveourseas.com
• IUCN Shark Specialist Group:
  www.iucnssg.org
• Shark Research Institute:
  www.sharks.org
• Shark Trust:
  www.sharktrust.org