The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is one of the largest and longest-living vertebrates on Earth. Native to the cold, deep waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, it can grow over 5 meters in length and live for centuries, with some individuals estimated to reach more than 400 years of age. Slow-moving and elusive, it feeds on fish, seals, and carrion, sometimes scavenging carcasses on the seafloor. Despite its massive size, the species is poorly understood, with mysteries surrounding its reproduction and early life stages. Due to its extreme longevity and vulnerability to bycatch, the Greenland shark is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN.
