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Quiz about Greenland Sharks
Quiz about Greenland Sharks

Greenland Sharks Trivia Quiz


The Greenland shark is a fascinating species of shark that often flies (or swims) under the radar. This quiz will cover some of the interesting facts about this interesting fish.

A multiple-choice quiz by Trivia_Fan54. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Trivia_Fan54
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
393,752
Updated
Jan 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
395
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (6/10), Guest 47 (3/10), bigwoo (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Where does the Greenland shark live? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. How long is a typical Greenland shark? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The Greenland shark has the longest lifespan of any vertebrate species.


Question 4 of 10
4. At what age does the Greenland shark become mature enough to begin reproducing? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Greenland sharks give birth to live young. How many pups are typical in a litter for the average female? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. All sharks have a variety of food that sustains them, depending on their dietary needs and the areas that they populate. What do Greenland sharks eat? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The flesh of the Greenland shark is typically toxic, but can be treated to reduce the toxic effects. Where is it considered a delicacy to eat the treated Greenland shark meat? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The Inuit have a legend about the origins of the Greenland shark. Knowing that there is a high content of urea in the flesh of the shark, who is the main character in the legend? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What often helps to attract prey to the Greenland shark's head? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What is the likelihood that a Greenland shark will attack a human? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 136: 6/10
Oct 15 2024 : Guest 47: 3/10
Oct 15 2024 : bigwoo: 7/10
Oct 08 2024 : Guest 212: 3/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Where does the Greenland shark live?

Answer: North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

As its name suggests, the Greenland shark's range is mainly in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Its slow metabolism allows it to live in the cold waters in these areas.
2. How long is a typical Greenland shark?

Answer: Eight to fifteen feet

Although Greenland sharks can grow larger, most have been observed to be between eight and fifteen feet. They typically weigh up to 400 kilograms (880 pounds). Males are usually smaller than females. These sharks range in colour from light grey to dark brown, and have thickset and rounded snouts, small eyes, and small fins.

The gills are also very small for a species as large as the Greenland shark.
3. The Greenland shark has the longest lifespan of any vertebrate species.

Answer: True

In a study in 2016, scientists examined the eyes of Greenland sharks to determine their age. The lens of their eyes is metabolically inactive, with new layers added throughout its life. This is similar to rings in a tree. The scientists used radiocarbon dating in crystals found in the lenses of a sample of sharks.

The oldest shark, which was also the largest, was found to be 392 ± 120 years. The old shark in that sample could have been born just after Columbus discovered America!
4. At what age does the Greenland shark become mature enough to begin reproducing?

Answer: About 150 years

In the study of Greenland sharks that was completed in 2016, scientists found that these sharks live a very long time. They also estimated that sharks must be about 150 years of age before they become capable of reproduction. This means that Greenland sharks that were born around the time of the US Civil war had just become mature enough to reproduce when the study was completed.
5. Greenland sharks give birth to live young. How many pups are typical in a litter for the average female?

Answer: 10

In 2016 when the initial study of the Greenland shark took place, the length of the gestation period could not be determined. However it has been discovered that there are ten pups in the average litter. Greenland shark pups are typically 38-42 cm (15-17 in) long when first born.
6. All sharks have a variety of food that sustains them, depending on their dietary needs and the areas that they populate. What do Greenland sharks eat?

Answer: Mammals and fish

Although the Greenland shark mainly eats fish, it has also been known to eat mammals. They have been found with the remains of seals, horses, moose and polar bears in their stomachs. In one case, an entire reindeer body was found inside a Greenland shark. They are known scavengers, and seem to be attracted by the smell of rotting meat and fish using their outstanding sense of smell.
7. The flesh of the Greenland shark is typically toxic, but can be treated to reduce the toxic effects. Where is it considered a delicacy to eat the treated Greenland shark meat?

Answer: Iceland

The Greenland shark's flesh is toxic due to high concentrations trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) that metabolizes into trimethylamine when eaten. This causes effects very similar to extreme drunkenness. In Iceland, the meat is treated by boiling in several changes of water, drying, or fermenting. It is then consumed as kęstur hįkarl, a delicacy in that country.
8. The Inuit have a legend about the origins of the Greenland shark. Knowing that there is a high content of urea in the flesh of the shark, who is the main character in the legend?

Answer: An old woman who washes her hair in urine.

There is a high urea content in the flesh of Greenland sharks. To explain this, the Inuit tell the story of Skalugsuak, which they say is the first Greenland shark. According to the legend, an old woman washed her hair with urine. When she dried her hair, the towel blew into the ocean and became Skalugsuak.
9. What often helps to attract prey to the Greenland shark's head?

Answer: Bioluminescent crustaceans that attach to the shark's eyes.

Copepods are bioluminescent crustaceans that attach to the Greenland shark's eyes. Most scientists theorize that these crustaceans help to attract prey towards the shark's head where it is easily ingested by the shark. The copepods cause blindness in the Greenland shark, but this seems to be tolerated in exchange for the lure that they provide.
10. What is the likelihood that a Greenland shark will attack a human?

Answer: Extremely unlikely. No attacks were reported in the 20th century.

Greenland sharks are non-confrontational. Besides having a territory where humans don't typically swim, the sharks also swim at great depths. Researchers have recorded them diving to almost 8,000 feet, not a place where humans will be found diving.
Source: Author Trivia_Fan54

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor guitargoddess before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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