Greenland sharks are the largest shark in the Somniosidae family, and the fourth largest shark in general behind the great white shark! They can grow more than 20 feet long and weigh up to over 3,000 pounds but the average is around 2,200 with males being smaller than females.

This shark comes in a variety of colors from a creamy-gray to a dark blackish-brown with white or black spots and faint streaks down their back.

The Greenland shark is easily identifiable by their thick, tube-like shape featuring a round snout with small eyes, small gills, and small dorsal and pectoral fins.

They are typically found in the arctic and subarctic waters of the northern Atlantic. The temperature in these waters can range from -2 to 10 degrees Celsius, which makes it the only species that is often found in these types of cold waters.

In the colder winter months, they can be seen coming to the surface near the edge of the ice, but otherwise, they are known to be deep-dwelling descending as far down as 7,000+ feet below the surface.

The Greenland shark is not an active hunter, but will instead eat any meat it comes across, whether it’s dead or alive. They mainly eat eels, flounders, smaller sharks, and other marine life. However, Greenland sharks have also been known to eat polar bears, horses, moose, and even reindeer! Lucky for us, there has never been one reported case of a Greenland shark ever harming a human.

To eat, their top row of teeth are pointed and smooth to be used as an anchor to hold prey steady. The bottom row has teeth that are larger and curved sideways. By swinging its head in a circular motion, the shark takes round pieces out of its prey.

After mating, female Greenland sharks develop ususally 10 embryos in their body. After 8-18 years, she will give birth to the pups that each measure about 15-17 inches in length. 

Since Greenland sharks live so long, it is estimated that a female can have 200-700 pups in their lifetime. 

The meat of the Greenland shark is poisonous. Their body contains trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which acts as a natural antifreeze for the sharks. If we eat the meat, this TMAO will break down giving us the effect of extreme drunkenness. If we consume too much, it can lead to death. In Iceland, they will ferment the meat for months to consume it safely.

The majority of the Greenland sharks are blind. This is caused by parasites that latch onto the corneas of the sharks. However, even if these sharks could see, very little light reaches the depths that the Greenland shark likes to inhabit. This makes the Greenland shark rely on other sensory organs to get around and find food.

Greenland sharks don’t reach sexual maturity until they are 150 years old!