Sixgill Sharks Can Tolerate Near-Freezing Temperatures Just Above 34°F

A half-ton predator hunts in water barely warmer than melting ice.

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The deep ocean maintains relatively stable cold temperatures year-round.

Deep ocean temperatures commonly range from about 34 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and sixgill sharks remain active in these near-freezing conditions. Their metabolism and body mass support function in chronically cold habitats.

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Cold water slows chemical reactions and muscular performance, yet sixgills retain the ability to ambush sizable prey in these temperatures.

A car-length predator operating in water colder than most refrigerators demonstrates how deep-sea life pushes biological tolerance to extremes rarely experienced by large vertebrates.

Source

NOAA National Ocean Service

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