Greenland Shark Reproduction May Produce Dozens of Large Pups at Once

This century-old shark gives birth to litters larger than most mammals.

Home › Deep Sea Giants › Greenland Shark › Greenland Shark Reproduction May Produce Dozens of Large Pups at Once
← Back to Deep Sea Giants ← Back to Greenland Shark
Top Ad Slot
🤯 Did You Know (click to read)

Newborn sleeper sharks can measure over 40 centimeters long, unusually large compared to many shark species.

Although rarely observed directly, related sleeper sharks and limited data suggest Greenland sharks may produce litters of up to several dozen pups, each already large at birth.

Mid-Content Ad Slot
💥 Impact (click to read)

Combined with a gestation likely lasting many years and sexual maturity potentially delayed for over a century, reproduction in this species operates on a timescale almost unimaginable in vertebrates.

Such extreme life-history pacing means conservation mistakes echo for centuries, because each adult female represents generations of deferred biological investment.

Source

IUCN Red List

LinkedIn Reddit
Copy Link

⚡ Ready for another mind-blower?

‹ Previous Next ›

💬 Comments