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Greenland shark spotted in the Caribbean, thousands of kilometers from its icy habitat
US researchers have spotted an Arctic shark in the warm waters of a coral atoll in Belize. Mystery in the Caribbean.
It sounds absurd, but for the first time, one has been spotted a Greenland shark (Dreamy microcephalus) in the waters of the Western Caribbean thousands of kilometers from his its natural habitat is cold. It is almost like seeing a polar bear strolling along the Italian coast.
More precisely, the Arctic shark has been observed wandering around Glover's Reef, a magnificent coral atoll of Belize state in north-central America overlooking the Carribean Sea. The Greenland shark is a huge cartilaginous fish that lives in the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, typically in the deep waters along the coasts of Greenland (hence the name) and Iceland.
But there is still a lot to discover about these mysterious and fascinating animals, even in light of the extraordinary Caribbean sighting. The Greenland shark, which can reach 7.3 meters in length for approx 1,500 kilograms in weight, is known to be the longest-lived vertebrate on Earth; it is believed that the oldest specimen analyzed could have over 510 years . According to scholars, these very slow-growing sharks would reach sexual maturity in 150 years.
Describing the Greenland shark sighting in the Western Caribbean was an international research team led by US scientists from the Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab of the International University of Florida (FIU) in Miami, who collaborated closely with colleagues.
Of the Belize Riversdale company. The marine biologists, coordinated by the doctoral student Devanshi Kasana, a researcher at the Department of Biological Sciences of the American university, were in the waters of the Central American country to label the tiger sharks with the help of local fishermen, when in April 2022 they came across a truly unusual creature for tropical waters.
“At first, I was sure it was something else, like a six-gill shark (head shark in Italy NDR) which is well known for living in the deep waters off coral reefs, ”said Dr. Kasana in a press release from the university. “I knew it was unusual and it was also unusual for fishermen, who had never seen anything like it in all their years of fishing,” added the expert.
However, when Dr. Kasana presented the images of the specimen to his colleagues, it emerged that the animal captured - and then released - was decidedly more unusual than a leader for the Caribbean: it was in fact (most likely) a shark. of Greenland. Among the most cryptic clues is the significant size of the animal (between 3 and 3.5 meters) and the presence of a crustacean parasite in his eye, a copepod called Omatokoita elongate which is known to parasitize these long-lived sharks.
The study authors said they may not be 100 percent certain of the species, but lean towards a Greenland shark or a hybrid between the arctic shark and the Pacific lemargo (A peaceful dreamer), another large shark belonging to the family of Somniosides (the so-called "sleeping sharks") and a close relative of the Greenland shark.
"This is the first recording of a sleeping shark in the Western Caribbean region and further supports the hypothesis that these sharks, better known in polar and subpolar latitudes, are found deep in tropical regions," the authors of the research pointed out in the study. study abstract.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
💬 How rare is it to find a Greenland shark in the Caribbean?
Finding a Greenland shark in the Caribbean is extremely rare and unusual, as these Arctic sharks typically inhabit cold waters around Greenland and Iceland. This sighting at Glover's Reef in Belize represents a remarkable and unexpected discovery for marine researchers.
💬 What makes Greenland sharks unique compared to other shark species?
Greenland sharks are known for being the longest-lived vertebrate on Earth, with some specimens potentially living over 510 years. They are also incredibly slow-growing, taking approximately 150 years to reach sexual maturity and can grow up to 7.3 meters long and weigh around 1,500 kilograms.
💬 Are Greenland sharks dangerous to humans?
Greenland sharks are generally not considered a threat to humans due to their deep-water habitat and slow movement in cold Arctic regions. While they are large predators, encounters with humans are extremely rare given their natural environment and limited geographical range.