A Greenland shark has been discovered in a coral area off the coast of Belize, a tropical nation in the Caribbean, surprising researchers.
This marks the first time this species has been found in the western Caribbean region, according to a press release from Florida International University (FIU), as reported by CNN on July 31.
According to the release, Ms. Devanshi Kasana, a Ph.D. candidate at FIU, discovered the shark while tagging and tracking tiger sharks in Belize alongside local fishermen, as it appeared different from other fish.
Greenland shark found in the Caribbean Sea. (Photo: Devanshi Kasana/Florida International University).
Ms. Kasana sent images of the fish to her advisor, who confirmed that this is a Greenland shark, or possibly a hybrid between a Greenland shark and a Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus).
Not only the scientific community but also fishermen expressed surprise at this discovery. “I knew there were species we had never seen in Belize deep underwater, but I never thought we would catch a Greenland shark,” said Omar Faux, one of the Belizean fishermen involved in Ms. Kasana’s project.
The Greenland shark is considered the longest-living vertebrate on Earth, with a lifespan that can reach up to 400 years, according to a study published in 2016 by scientists from Denmark, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
They can also grow over 7 meters long and weigh up to 1,000 kg. This species typically inhabits deep waters in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, making it challenging for scientists to study.
Nevertheless, Florida International University suggests that there may be many Greenland sharks roaming the ocean floor in tropical waters, where the water temperature is significantly lower than at the surface.
