| Summary: | This graph shows the estimated lifespan concluded by carbon dating in reference to the Greenland shark, illustrating that the oldest recorded specimen was estimated to have been born around the early to mid-1500s. (25) Somniosus microcephalus, otherwise known as the Greenland shark, is a rather curious animal. Growing to around 7 meters, relatively the size of its more famous cousin the great white, the Greenland shark has a very long tubular body with a rounded snout and a domed head, as referred to on page 4. This alien-looking creature gives off the appearance of a lost Soviet submarine coasting through the Arctic seas. Living in freezing waters and covered by a near constant foot of ice, this animal is incredibly sloth-like, yet it somehow is capable of hunting fast-moving prey such as seals, squid, and even birds. (24) Upon dissections, polar bear and reindeer remains have been recovered—which is all the more shocking given the fact that nearly every Greenland shark is blind. This blindness is due to a copepod parasite known as Ommatokita elongate which will burrow into the animals cornea rendering the whole optic organ useless. (20) So how exactly does this almost lethargic blind shark, living in nearly total darkness, hunt such fast-moving prey? There are many theories centering around methodical and almost relentless behavior which brings to mind the fable of the tortoise and the hare. In 1999, a month long study conducted by Dr. Greg Skomal found that these animals don’t spend all their time on the ocean floor (24) but often stalked the seal population with a presumably superior sense of smell as they navigated the cold waters (24). Another hunting mechanism the Greenland shark has tucked away in its arsenal is the same one that all species of shark possess: the amazing ability of electro-sensors. Electroreception is the ability to navigate and discern the Earth’s magnetic fields. It is comparable to echolocation with the ability to discern sound waves as means of hunting, similar 13 | P a g e
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