# Greenland shark (*Somniosus microcephalus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/greenland-shark  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is a fish in the sharks and rays subgroup, belonging to the family Somniosidae in the order Squaliformes. It is placed in the class Elasmobranchii and the genus Somniosus, and its scientific name carries the authority (Bloch & Schneider, 1801). The IUCN Red List assesses the greenland shark globally as Vulnerable (VU), a threatened category. Its lifespan is reported at up to 500 years.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | up to 6.4 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Longest recorded lifespan | 500 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Elasmobranchii
- order: Squaliformes
- family: Somniosidae
- genus: Somniosus
- species: *Somniosus microcephalus* (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Synonyms: *Laemargus microcephalus*, *Leiodon echinatum*, *Scymnus glacialis*, *Scymnus gunneri*, *Scymnus micropterus*, *Somniosus brevipinna*, *Squalus borealis*, *Squalus microcephalus*, *Squalus norvegianus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the greenland shark?

The greenland shark is a fish in the sharks and rays subgroup, classified in the family Somniosidae and the order Squaliformes.

### What is the scientific name of the greenland shark?

Its scientific name is Somniosus microcephalus, in the genus Somniosus.

### Who named the greenland shark and when?

The authority for its scientific name is (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).

### Is the greenland shark endangered?

The greenland shark is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, which is a threatened category.

### How long does the greenland shark live?

Its lifespan is reported at up to 500 years.

### What other names does the greenland shark have?

Other English names for it are Gray shark, Gurry shark, Ground shark, Sleeper shark and Southern sleeper shark.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/greenland-shark