#somniosidae

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Greenland sharks?

Have you seen the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onMay 18

[herpsandbirds]

Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus), family Somniosidae, order Squaliformes, usually found in the depths of the North Pacific

video by MBARI

[dotkamina]

Da shark!

A simple drawing I did during class. It shouldn't have taken me too long, but the truth is I kept putting it off. It's my first drawing done entirely from scratch without using models or bases.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Just like counting rings on a tree trunk, most sharks can be aged by the growth bands around their vertebrae. The greenland shark is a remarkable exception; as their soft vertebrae lack these bands, the age can only be determined by the layers on the lenses of their eyes. Some scientists also use radiocarbon dating, which can be useful as greenland sharks can easily live to be over 300 years old.

(Image: An ancient greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) by Franco Banfi)

If you like what I do, consider leaving a tip or buying me a ko-fi!

[captain-beck-antilles]

Field Book of Giant Fishes, G. P. Putnam, 1949 

Things I do legitimately miss about the US:

Sisters

Dog (maybe the asshole cat too)

SHARK WEEK

Canned pumpkin

http://www.nat-geo.ru/fact/42402-samaya-medlitelnaya-ryba/

I just love these gigantic derps.

[dailyelasmobranch]

Greenland shark - Somniosus microcephalus

With an average adult length between 8 and 15 ft to a maximum of 24 ft, the Greenland shark is the Arctic's largest fish. It is native to the north Atlantic and the Arctic and is the only shark to tolerate such temperatures throughout the year; its preferred range seems to be 30-50°F. It can be observed from the surface to depths of almost 7,218 ft. The Greenland shark is believed to be an opportunistic feeder and a scavenger primarily; if prey is too large to swallow whole, it is able to pin it in place with pointed upper teeth and cut round "plugs" from it with wide, curved bottom teeth by swinging its head in a circular motion. 90% of the observed Arctic population are host to the parasitic copepod Ommatokoita elongata, which consumes its corneal tissue and causes partial blindness, but its habitat and depths renders its sight useless. The only confirmed predator of the Greenland shark is the sperm whale, although it is also known to be cannibalistic in the presence of individuals deceased or in distress. Currently classed as Near Threatened and taken as bycatch, it has been historically targeted for its rich liver oil but the extremely high concentration of urea and trimethylamine oxide in its flesh renders it toxic. There is very limited data at present on its lifespan except for a single scientific paper that showed a size increase of just over 2 inches in 16 years on one shark; this growth rate suggests that a fully grown Greenland shark could be over 200 years old, potentially making it the longest-living vertebrate on the planet.