Even though many species of shark reside near the surface, an entire world of deep-sea sharks also live and thrive, only in the darkness of the depths. Today, we will be looking at some of these sharks, particularly the big ones! Let’s discover The 5 Largest Deep Sea Sharks in the World.
What are deep Sea Sharks?
The “deep sea” isn’t a technical term, but it can still be very descriptive when grouping different species. The ocean is split into different layers, with the deepest layer being called the “hadalpelagic” zone, which is 20,000-36,000 feet down. The “deep sea” is generally referred to as anything below 1,000 fathoms or roughly 6,000 feet down. No sunlight reaches this layer, and most of the creatures are unique and adapted to a life of survival in the crushing weight of all that water. It is amazing that anything can survive at the deepest depths of the ocean as there is no light whatsoever and the intense pressure from the weight of the water above is beyond anything we can imagine. The pressure is so great in the deepest parts of the ocean that is it actually easier to put a spaceship on the moon than it is to explore the depths. It was once thought that nothing lived in the deep ocean because of the lack of light and pressure. However, improving technology has finally allowed us to explore some of these waters and the reality is that they are full of life. The fact that such a wide variety of creatures live in the deep waters is one of nature’s most astounding phenomena. Today, we are going to take a look at sharks that live in this dark and watery world. If the deep sea is anything below 6,000 feet, a deep sea shark would be a shark that ventures in or around this border. Beware: many of them are truly wild!
A list of the 5 largest deep-sea sharks in the world
5. Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark is one of the most famous sharks in the world for a few reasons. First, they are quite the mystery! These sharks live in the extremely cold waters around the northern pole, hence the name “Greenland” shark. They are extremely slow-moving in order to combat the energy requirements in the cold but are still considered predatory by some scientists. Generally, these 24-foot giants stay around 3,900 feet, but they are often recorded at depths of up to 7,200 feet. Incredibly, these sharks are toxic, but special preparation methods in Iceland have turned them into a delicacy in the country.
4. Megamouth Shark
The megamouth shark is one of the biggest mysteries in the world of sharks. It was only discovered in 1976, and since then, less than 100 specimens have ever been seen, let alone caught. These sharks are known as filter-feeding sharks, along with the whale and the basking shark. The megamouth has been seen around 600 feet, but scientists believe they hunt in vertical columns, meaning they move up and down instead of around when looking for food. It’s estimated that these sharks regularly dive up to 15,000 feet in search of plankton and jellyfish.
3. Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
The bluntnose sixgill shark often referred to as the cow shark, is an ancient shark that resides in the deep regions of the ocean. These sharks have a unique appearance due to their ancient roots, with many scientists believing they are closer to the primitive Triassic sharks than any in the modern age. As their name suggests, they have six gills instead of the standard five. They are often seen in coastal waters, around 300 feet at times, but migrate down deep in search of food, often to depths of 6,152 feet. Additionally, the sixgill shark can grow up to 16 feet long, making it one of the largest around.
2. Pacific Sleeper Shark
The Pacific sleeper shark belongs to a group of sharks known as “sleeper sharks,” along with the Greenland shark. Pacific sleepers are slightly smaller (around 14 feet) than Greenland but are extremely similar in many other ways. They generally inhabit the deep regions in the north Pacific and feed on other bottom dwellers, namely the giant octopus.
1. Goblin Shark
The goblin shark may just be the creepiest looking shark on the list! These sharks are ancient and often regarded as living fossils since they are the oldest species of shark alive. They first evolved 125 million years ago and look like they haven’t changed at all. They have a massive horn on their foreheads, haphazard teeth sticking out at odd angles, and a set of beady eyes. Also, they often appear pink from their near-transparent skin and layers of fat.
Up Next…
Real Life Jaws Spotted – 30ft Great White Shark By BoatDiscover the Ancient Creature That Could Eat a Great White Shark in 1 Bite (and a T-Rex in 3 Bites!)Why Did Megalodon Sharks Go Extinct?
