Date:10/16/2023 8:05 PM
Happy Monday! Thank you everyone for remaining patient about the brief hiatus well I had some important tests. Today's fish of the day is the greenland shark!
The greenland shark, also known as the gurry, or grey shark, and scientific name Somniosus microcephalus, is known mostly for their insane lifespan. They can live up to 500 years old, and are the single longest living vertebrate found. They live in the North Atlantic, little studied due to the extreme cold of their environment. They have a toxin produced in the tissue of their bodies to help keep warm, however it causes their meat to be poisonous. Despite this, in Iceland, after being treated for the toxin it is a delicacy.
Greenland sharks are predators, hunting for fish and occasionally seals on the Canadian coasts. Although, they are opportunists and will eat on fallen corpses when found. Even though they are wonderful hunters, the greenland shark is one of the slowest record sharks in existence, only being able to swim around 1.5 miles an hour at their highest speed. Due to this, they primarily hunt prey that is resting, or asleep.
Yearly, greenland sharks migrate, however they migrate not from one ocean to another, but rather depth, living closer to the surface during the winter, and deeper waters in the summer. Found as deep as 5,500 ft. They can often be found blind, and are often infected with a parasite Ommatokoita elongata, a crustacean that feeds on skin, eyes, and other such soft areas. This does not hinder greenland sharks, as they operate predominantly off of smell and taste.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!