Shark that’s very long in the tooth
SCIENTIST JETS TO GREENLAND TO STUDY PREDATOR THAT LIVES UP TO 400 YEARS
A MANCHESTER scientist is heading to Greenland to study a shark that can live for more than 400 YEARS.
Physiologist Dr Holly Shiels, from the University of Manchester, will be the only UK-based scientist on the expedition commissioned by the Greenland government.
She will be studying the Greenland shark, the longest-living vertebrate animal, which inhabits the deep seas around the Arctic Circle.
The purpose of the mission is to understand more about the shark, a top predator in the Arctic, which lives for more than 272 years – possibly more than 400.
The unbelievable age was only revealed by scientists from Copenhagen last year and published in the journal Science.
Little else is known about how the mysterious beast of the deep, which at around 18ft is just slightly smaller than the Great White.
Research also shows it’s both a hunter and a scavenger which has been seen to feed on seals. The remains of polar bears and whales have also been found in its stomach.
Dr Shiels, senior lecturer in animal physiology, said more information is needed to ensure the future of the species.
The scientist, who will join the team aboard the research vessel Sanna, said the species is ‘data deficient,’ adding: “This means that we don’t know enough to put measures in place to protect them from over-fishing, pollution or climate change.”
The sharks are often captured by local fishermen as by-catch. It’s mostly these accidental finds that the team will study in Greenland.
Dr Shiels, who specialises in cardiovascular function, will be looking for clues about how the shark’s heart and circulation works in its usual habitat, deep below the ocean surface.
She added: “Most of what we know about these sharks comes from traditional knowledge and anecdotal accounts so for such a large and fascinating fish, this isn’t enough to really protect them or understand their lifecycles.
“This expedition is one of the first to try and understand the physiology of Greenland sharks.”
The shark’s reproductive system will also be studied - they are believed to take 150 years to reach sexual maturity - as well as the growth and ageing process.
They will also seek to tag live sharks with accelerometers and satellite popup-tags so their movements can be studied.
The Greenland Shark is considered a delicacy in Iceland, but they have to be buried and part-fermented over a period of months to get rid of toxicity.
If the meat is eaten fresh, diners become ‘shark-drunk,’ with vomiting and diarrhoea among the symptoms.