Scientists estimate it can live around 200 years. The Greenland Shark, known for being the primary ingredient in the infamous Icelandic dish “Hakarl,” is one of the longest living sharks on the planet. Though not specifically a deep water shark, this amazing shark has developed evolutionary adaptations for every depth. The shark also has photophores along its underside that can glow neon green, so it can attract and confuse prey in very deep waters. The Cookiecutter Shark has suctioning lips and unique teeth that helps it cut plugs of flesh out of its prey, so it can feast on animals much larger than itself. It gets its name from it’s usual way of feasting on prey. The Cookiecutter Shark hunts at nearly every ocean depth, but has been found at incredible depths of 2.3 miles (3.7 km). The Cookiecutter Shark is one of the smallest sharks in the world, growing to only 16-22 in (42-56 cm) in length. So though it doesn’t always live in the deep ocean, it can often be found in the deep hunting for prey. The Bluntnose Sixgill Shark practices vertical migration and will follow food sources up and down the ocean column. Though the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark tends inhabit coastal waters around 300 ft (90 m), it has been recorded at depths of 6,152 ft (1,875 m). Also unlike most modern shark species that only have five gill slits, the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark has six gill slits which gives the shark its name. Like other ancient sharks it only has one dorsal fin on its lower back and large pectoral fins. The Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, also known as the Cow Shark, has extremely primitive features and more resembles the now extinct sharks of the Triassic Period than any of its living cousins. These biological trait helps it be an impressive hunter in the pitch black waters of the deep ocean. It’s name comes from both the ability to glow and its silent, ninja-like hunting style. What makes the Ninja Lantern Shark so unique is that it has bioluminescent organs that light up to attract and confuse prey. It is one of the smallest species of shark on the planet measuring in at only 12-20 in (325-515 mm) in length. The Ninja Lantern Shark lives at depths of around 2,743-4,735 ft (836-1443 m). The Ninja Lantern Shark was only recently discovered in 1995 off the Pacific Coast of Central America. It has a long, eel-like body with an unusually large liver for its size that helps it stay buoyant and maneuver in the pressures of the deep water. The Frill Shark gets its name from unusual gill filaments that form a frilled crown around its head.

However, a Frill Shark was once caught at a depth of 5,150 ft (1,570 m), so scientists believe it may hunt even deeper. The Frill Shark lives at 3,300 ft (1,000 m) along the continental shelves and slopes of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Frill Shark is another ancient species of shark and may be responsible for the myth of sea serpents.

The Goblin Shark’s unique biology helps it stay buoyant and silently hunt in the deep sea. It has a long pointed snout and a retractable jaw that helps it quickly grab prey without using quick bursts of energy. The Goblin Shark has a long slender body that is comprised mostly of fat and swims very slowly through the water. However, it has been found hunting between 4,300-4,490 ft (1,300-1,370 m) under the surface. The Goblin Shark tends to live at 890-3,150 ft (270-960 m) along the upper continental slope and in deep sea canyons.

The Goblin Shark is the oldest living species of shark on the planet and is considered a “living fossil.” It has been swimming around our deep oceans for over 125 million years.

Deep blue shark