Sea's slowest sharks like to snack on sleeping seals

[microrobert]

Sea's slowest sharks like to snack on sleeping seals

Greenland predators may not be fast, but they're pretty sneaky, researchers find



The Greenland sleeper shark can reach a maximum length of about 21 feet (6.4 meters) and live in the chilly waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic. It is shown here in a screengrab of a video by GEERG, a research group that studies the Greenland shark and other northern sharks.

The Greenland sleeper shark has just been tagged the slowest fish in the sea relative to its size, according to a new study that also found the sharks have a sneaky way to still nab live prey — they attack sleeping seals.

The results may explain how these sluggish sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), also called sleeper sharks for their slowness, manage a diet that includes seals. Reports have shown this slowpoke of the Arctic and North Atlantic consumes ringed seals (Pusa hispida), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus).

Slow sharks snack on sleeping seals - Technology & science - Science - LiveScience - msnbc.com

[Supreme American]

I consider sharks one of the most worthless creatures on the planet.

[The Lawspeaker]

I consider sharks one of the most worthless creatures on the planet.

Tell him that when you're swimming in front of one.

[Supreme American]

Tell him that when you're swimming in front of one.

That's partly why I consider them worthless.

I may have actually had a very small one brush up against my leg in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

[Supreme American]

Apparently sharks aren't totally worthless. They don't get cancer and researchers are trying to find out why.

[Contra Mundum]

I consider sharks one of the most worthless creatures on the planet.

They play a role in nature. Predators kill and eat the weak. That only makes the species they prey on genetically healthier. Sharks play the same role in the oceans as wolves and lions do on land.