Odd Stranding Case of Rare 100-Year-Old Greenland Shark in UK Coast Baffled Experts

A rare Greenland shark was recently found dead on a shore in the United Kingdom. Experts who examined that animal theorized that the shark was approximately 100 years old, but why it was washed up and stranded in a neighboring region remains unsolved.

Greenland Shark Found Dead on Beach in Cornwall, UK

The rare shark was first reported lying lifeless on a beach Sunday, March 13, in Cornwall's Newlyn Harbour. However, further investigation was left hanging due to the carcass being pulled back from England's southwest coast moments after its discovery.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust explained in a tweet that the shark was driven away by tides, blocking them from carrying out additional analysis of the species and what caused its demise.

In March 2015, the shark's dead body was sighted floating oof the cost of the same region. The group that rediscovered the carcass was the team from the commercial boating company Mermaid Pleasure Tripes. Upon their encounter, the group recovered the remains and brought them back to the shore.

Greenland sharks are not common in the depths of the UK seas. This new case was only second to the only stranding case recorded on the shores of the country.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust's marine conservation specialist and marine stranding network officer Abby Crosby explained in a Live Science report that it is unfortunate for the spectacular marine animal to be stranded on the beach and lose its life, but the death of the rare animal presented a valuable window of opportunity that would let us learn more about them.

Somniosus microcephalus: Sharks That Can Grow Past Centuries

Greenland sharks or the Somniosus microcephalus inhabit most water bodies in the northern hemisphere, including the North Atlantic ocean and the Arctic region. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) data, the sharks reside at depths that measure over 2,600 meters below the surface.

In a study, experts concluded that the rare Greenland sharks could reach an age of 272 years, but further analysis is required to gain more knowledge about their surprising lifespan. The paper was published in the journal Science, titled "Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)."

The Cornwall case involved the remains of a juvenile female Greenland shark that scaled to four meters in length and weighed at about 285 kilograms. According to the study, the age of this particular swimmer was undefined, but experts said that the maturity development of the Greenland sharks begins when they reach 150 years.

St. Lawrence Shark Observatory (ORS) said that Greenland sharks do not stop growing while they age. An adult version of the species could grow its length to 7.3 meters.

Cornwall Marine Pathology Team's veterinary pathology specialist James Barnett led the examination of the shark's carcass on March 16. The new study for the animal was carried out in collaboration with the national program Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP).

Barnett said that the shark had possible symptoms of an infection in the blood called septicemia. However, the loss of appetite observed from the analysis and why it was washed up alive on the beach needs further study.

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