How deep can a Greenland shark descend below the ocean surface?
Answer
At least 2,200 metres
A Greenland shark can descend to at least 2,200 metres below the ocean surface.
This depth makes the Greenland shark one of the deepest-diving fish known. It inhabits cold waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, from relatively shallow coastal areas to the deep ocean, where pressure is immense and light is scarce.
Greenland sharks are slow-moving predators and scavengers. Their diet can include fish, seals, squid, and carrion. They have also been found with remains of fast-moving animals in their stomachs, although some prey may have been scavenged rather than actively captured.
The species is also famous for exceptional longevity. Radiocarbon dating of eye lenses suggested that some Greenland sharks may live for several centuries, making them among the longest-lived vertebrates known.