Nature



04/09/2015

Polar shark


Polar shark

In the waters of the high latitudes can find true polar shark.

Greenland Shark among relatives Characterized by cold water and an extremely low rate from 1.6 to 2.7 km / h, which is twice slower swim speed seals. Therefore, scientists are still puzzled how such a slow predators manage to hunt their prey.

Polar sharks feed on seals, smaller sharks, different types of fish. Sometimes in the stomachs of sharks are the remains of deer. We know that does not shrink from Greenland shark and carrion.

Many of these animals take place in the mythology of the Eskimos. It is believed that they were, like many other marine inhabitants of the fingers Eskimo girl Sedna, a father for disobedience thrown into the sea, where she became the goddess of the sea. Therefore, if an Eskimo while fishing polar shark attacks, it is believed that this place Sedna.

In the culture of Iceland, this type also plays a significant role - the inhabitants of the northern countries use shark meat as food. Since it is extremely toxic to humans in raw form because of the high content of urea, its long pre-cooked. The resulting dish is called in Icelandic hakarl.

At the moment, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Greenland Shark awarded the status of "close to the vulnerable situation": to the 60th. last century fishermen mined per year up to 50 000 sharks of liver fat.