Category: Fish
Anchovies are small, oily fish that are found in scattered areas throughout the world’s oceans. They tend to be tolerant of a large range of temperatures and salinity. They are an important food source for almost every predatory fish, and many birds, in their environment. Anchovies have also been an important food source for humans in many cultures around the world throughout history – ancient Romans, for example, fermented anchovies into a sauce known "Garum."
The Oldest Fish in the Sea?
The Greenland Sleeper Shark, the only living species of sub-Arctic shark, is an apex predator only slightly smaller than the great white shark, with an estimated lifespan of 200 years - one of the longest-living vertebrates on the planet. While the Greenland Shark is a slow swimmer, it will eat just about anything: eels, flounders, other sharks, seals - and those are just animals who live in the water! Polar bear remains and even an entire reindeer body have been found inside these sharks! Fortunately, while there are Inuit legends of Greenland sharks attacking kayaks, there have been no reports of human predation. There have been, however many cases of people eating Greenland sharks! Their meat is highly toxic - it will produce effects in your body similar to being extremely drunk, but a fermented version that has been hung out to dry for several weeks is considered a delicacy in Iceland.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
