A Greenland shark was found for the first time on the west coast of Ireland, washed ashore by the sea. This rare find gave scientists the opportunity to study one of the ocean's most mysterious animals, which can live for nearly four centuries, and whose heart and eyesight remain functional even at a very old age. BBC shares the details.
In April 2026, researchers and volunteers gathered on the coast of County Sligo in Ireland after reports of an unusual find. A grey-beige male Greenland shark, about three meters long, lay on the shore. This was the first recorded instance in Ireland of a specimen of this species being washed ashore.
Based on the animal's size, scientists estimated its age to be over 150 years. For a human, this is an incredible age, but for a Greenland (polar) shark, it's just the beginning of adult life. This species is considered the longest-living among all vertebrates: its representatives can live for about 400 years. Greenland (polar) sharks reach sexual maturity only at approximately one and a half centuries, so the found specimen likely only recently became capable of reproduction.
Greenland sharks are slow, solitary predators and scavengers. They feed on marine animal carcasses, but are also capable of hunting live prey, such as seals. They have been observed literally «sucking in» their prey: a powerful suction reflex allows them to draw prey into their mouths and swallow it whole.
These sharks inhabit the waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic around Greenland, Canada, and Ireland. Through evolution, they have acquired features for survival in the cold: a high concentration of certain chemical compounds in their bodies acts like antifreeze, which, however, makes their meat poisonous to other creatures.
But much about the life of this animal remains a mystery. For instance, scientists still do not know where these sharks reproduce, how many pups a female gives birth to, or how often it occurs. Throughout the entire history of observations, researchers have only encountered one pregnant female.
Due to such gaps, it is impossible to accurately estimate the population size and determine which areas are most important for the species' conservation. This also complicates the assessment of threats, including the accidental entanglement of sharks in fishing nets.
After the discovery, the 200-kilogram carcass was transported to a veterinary laboratory for examination. For scientists, this was a rare opportunity to study an animal that spends most of its life in the cold depths of the ocean.
Specialists systematically inspected all organs, measured them, weighed them, and took tissue samples for further analysis. They paid particular attention to the heart, liver, eyes, muscles, and digestive system. Some of these samples will still be studied in various laboratories.
Researchers found no signs of injuries or damage from fishing gear on the body. Most organs also appeared without obvious pathologies, so laboratory analyses should help determine the true cause of death.
Eyes That Don't Age
One of the main subjects of the study was the shark's eyes. It was previously believed that these fish were almost blind due to parasites attached to their corneas. However, recent research has shown this not to be the case.
Even in individuals that have lived for over a century, retinal cells remain in good condition and adapted to life in near-total darkness. This indicates that the eyesight of the Greenland shark is almost impervious to age-related changes typical for humans and most other vertebrates.
Perhaps one reason for such resilience lies in the body's ability to repair damaged DNA. It is likely this that helps the body resist aging for so long.
The lens of the eye will now be used for radiocarbon analysis, which will help determine the animal's age more accurately. Additionally, scientists are studying telomeres (protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten with age) in muscle tissue.
A Heart Designed for Centuries
During the examination, scientists extracted a heart weighing about 34 kilograms. Outwardly, it appeared healthy.
Studies had already shown that the hearts of Greenland sharks exhibit signs of aging, including tissue scarring. However, despite this, they continue to perform their functions normally. This indicates that the Greenland (polar) shark is able to maintain normal heart function even in the presence of age-related changes — a characteristic almost unheard of in other vertebrates.
Observations of the digestive system also proved no less interesting. During the examination, the shark's stomach and intestines were removed entirely. The stomach was empty, but the spiral valve — a section of the intestine — was full, indicating that the shark had digested food shortly before its death.
Researchers note that an empty stomach was unlikely a problem for this fish. Greenland sharks have a very slow metabolism and low energy requirements, which is likely an adaptation to life in cold Arctic waters where prey is not always readily available.
The National Museum of Ireland plans to exhibit the shark in its display in the future, to educate visitors about one of the most mysterious shark species and the work of the scientists who study it. Meanwhile, the collected samples will continue to be studied in laboratories. Researchers hope that the collected samples will help determine the cause of death of the shark, which appeared healthy at first glance, and also better understand the biology of the longest-living vertebrate on the planet.
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