3. Unusually Slow Growth Rates
Greenland sharks display some of the slowest growth rates in the animal kingdom, adding less than a centimeter in length per year. This exceptionally gradual development is closely tied to their remarkable longevity. Interestingly, a similar relationship exists in other long-lived Arctic giants like bowhead whales, which also grow slowly and live for centuries. Such sluggish growth may be a crucial adaptation for survival in harsh, resource-limited environments. Read further at Smithsonian Magazine.