Greenland Shark Identification Guide
Identify the Greenland Shark by its heavy, cylindrical grey body, small fins, and rounded snout adapted to icy deep water.
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Key identification features
- Massive, stocky, cylindrical body reaching 5-7 m (16-23 ft), among the largest sharks
- Uniform grey to brownish coloration, sometimes with faint dark spots or bands
- Short, rounded snout and small eyes, often clouded by parasitic copepods
- Very small dorsal fins set far back, with no anal fin
- Sluggish, slow-swimming body shape suited to frigid deep water
Common look-alikes
- Pacific sleeper shark: nearly identical body plan; separated mainly by range (North Pacific vs. North Atlantic/Arctic) and subtle dermal denticle differences.
- Basking shark: also large and grey but has a pointed snout and enormous gill slits, unlike the Greenland Shark's small gill openings.
- Bluntnose sixgill shark: has six gill slits and a more tapered body, versus the Greenland Shark's five gill slits and blockier build.
Where you'll see one
Greenland Sharks inhabit cold Arctic and North Atlantic waters, from the surface in far northern seas to depths over 2,000 m further south, and are known for extremely slow growth and long lifespans in near-freezing water.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Greenland Shark from a Pacific Sleeper Shark?
They look nearly identical; the most reliable clue is location, since Greenland Sharks occur in the North Atlantic and Arctic while Pacific Sleeper Sharks live in the North Pacific.
Why do Greenland Sharks' eyes often look cloudy?
Many individuals carry a parasitic copepod attached to the cornea, which gives the eye a pale, clouded appearance and is a common field clue.