Upon hearing the news of a deceased Greenland shark washing ashore in northwestern Ireland, zoologist Emma Murphy was astonished.
These colossal and ancient marine creatures are known for their elusive nature, typically inhabiting the remote depths of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.
“I was in disbelief,” shared Murphy, a curator of zoology at the National Museum of Ireland, in an interview with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. “We were absolutely thrilled.”
The museum describes the species as “extremely rare” in Irish waters, marking the first documented case of one being stranded on the coast of Ireland.
As Irish scientists examine the remains of the shark, one expert suggests that the species might have a broader distribution than commonly believed.
Oldest vertebrate on Earth
A passerby spotted the shark near Sligo on April 11 and promptly contacted the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, a conservation organization that handles reports of stranded whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Initially mistaken for a deceased basking shark, a species often found in Irish waters, the shark’s true identity was confirmed through photographs by scientists at the conservation charity. They then reached out to colleagues at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
“We were eager to get there as soon as possible,” Murphy expressed.
According to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory, the Greenland shark is among the largest carnivorous shark species globally. Ranking second only to the great white shark, it typically ranges from three to five meters in length but can reach up to seven meters.
Renowned as the world’s longest-living vertebrate, this shark boasts a lifespan exceeding 270 years. The oldest recorded specimen was estimated to be 400 years old.
Greater habitat diversity than expected
Although primarily found in the cold waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic, including regions like Quebec and Atlantic Canada, shark scientist Dean Grubbs asserts that Ireland falls within the species’ known range.
“Due to their large size and mobility, with a preference for cold temperatures below 6°C, there are few barriers to their movements,” explained Grubbs, who serves as the associate research director at the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory.
Given their typical habitat around 2,000 meters beneath the ocean’s surface, Grubbs mentioned that Greenland sharks have been sighted in unexpected locations like Belize and the Gulf of Mexico.
“Their distribution is likely more extensive than currently understood,” he added. “The lack of deep-sea exploration limits our knowledge of their true range.”
‘Exquisite creatures’
Greenland sharks are seldom observed by humans due to their deep-sea residence inaccessible to divers.
The first
