Greenland shark: quick facts
The Greenland shark is a slow, cold-water giant of the deep Arctic and North Atlantic and is the longest-lived vertebrate known, with lifespans estimated at several centuries. It is an occasional predator and scavenger of marine mammals, and one of the more mysterious large animals sharing the narwhal's waters.
Scientific name
Somniosus microcephalus
Group
Shark
Length
About 4–6 m
Weight
Up to ~1,000 kg
Lifespan
250–400+ years
Diet
Fish, seals, scavenged carcasses
Range
Cold North Atlantic & Arctic, very deep
Population
Unknown
Conservation
Vulnerable
Sources: NOAA — Greenland Shark; IUCN Red List — Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Educational information only. See our sources & fact-check policy.