Author: (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
FBname: Greenland shark
Comments: Found on continental and insular shelves and upper slopes down to at least 1,200 m (Ref. 247) and to as deep as 2,200  m (Ref. 55584).  Epibenthic-pelagic (Ref. 58426).  In the  Arctic and boreal Atlantic, it occurs inshore in the  intertidal and at the surface in shallow bays and river mouths during colder months, retreating to depths of 180-550 m when the temperature rises (Ref. 247).  Reported to be found in temperatures from -1.8° to 17.2°C but commonly below 5°C  at with salinity range of 29.4-35.5.  It is capable of undertaking long migrations (Ref. 119696).  Feeds on  pelagic and bottom fishes (herring, Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, capelin, redfish, sculpins, lumpfish, cod, haddock,  Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut and skates (Ref. 
  5951)), sharks and skates (Ref. 5578), seals and small cetaceans, sea birds, squids, crabs, amphipods, marine snails, brittle stars, sea urchins, and jellyfish (Ref. 247, 58240).  Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 caught female Greenland sharks (81-502 cm TL) revealed a  life span of at least 272 years, the oldest being nearly 400 years; age of sexual maturity is about 150 years.  This  large species is slow-growing (Ref. 110949).  
  <i>Petromyzon marinus</i> was reported to have been attached to <i>S. microcephalus</i> (Ref. 58185).  Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205).  Utilized fresh and dried for human and sled-dog food (flesh is said to be toxic when fresh); Inuit also used the skin to make boots, and the 
  sharp lower dental bands as knives for cutting hair (Ref. 247).  A very sluggish shark (Ref. 28609). Reports in literature of lengths exceeding 640 cm TL (e.g. up to 730 cm TL in Ref. 247) remain unverified. Common length  244-427 cm TL (Ref. 119696).