What is a Goblin Shark?

A goblin shark is a type of deep water shark that has a retractable jaw. Rarely seen, goblin sharks are not studied in great numbers, but are thought to be relatively common. The scientific name for the goblin shark is Mitsukurina owstoni.

The goblin shark has a long, flat, pointed snout, small eyes, and a flabby pink-gray body. Its tail is asymmetrical, much longer on top than it is on the bottom. The largest of this species ever record was 12.6 feet (3.8 m), but they average around 5 feet (1.6 m). From the few samples studied, females seem to be larger than males.

The most remarkable feature of this shark is its jaws. Connected to the mandibular joints by ligaments which are either relaxed or contracted, the jaws are capable of shooting forward to capture prey. When the ligament are contracted the jaws sits flush against the body, their half-moon shape appearing very similar to other, more familiar, shark species. When the goblin shark senses food, the ligaments relax, and the jaws rapidly flash out, mouth wide, to capture the prey in its loosely spaced, needle-like teeth.

The goblin shark senses potential food by using organs in its snout called ampullae, which they use to detect their prey's bioelectric signatures. It likely remains mostly motionless when hunting, preferring the prey to come to it. Goblin sharks eat shrimp, squid, and soft bodied fish, as well as crabs. Not much about their diets is known since there is little scientific information about their stomach contents.

Most frequently found in Japan, goblin sharks live on outer continental shelves worldwide. Having been found at depths of 130-3,940 feet (40-1,200 m), they are thought to live near the bottom or at mid-level of their ocean habitats. They are assumed to be slow swimmers because their asymmetrical tails and muscle tone are not suited for speed.

Since a pregnant female has never been caught, means of reproduction is not known. Scientists speculate, however, that these sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live offspring, but the offspring are incubated inside fertilized eggs which hatch inside the body before birth. Scientists have come to this conclusion because most other sharks of the Lamniformes order — to which goblin sharks belong — are ovoviviparous.

The goblin shark is rarely caught intentionally, and is usually a by-catch of commercial fisherman. It is thought to be of minimal danger to humans, but has had relatively little contact with humans. There are about 45 specimens of goblin shark kept for study by scientists.

The Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a rare, deep-sea shark species, known for its distinctive elongated snout and protrusible jaws. It inhabits continental slopes and submarine canyons worldwide, typically at depths of 270 to 960 meters, though it has been found deeper. They are most commonly spotted off the coasts of Japan, but sightings are rare due to their deep-sea habitat.

The Goblin Shark employs a unique hunting mechanism; its highly specialized jaws can rapidly extend to snatch prey. This ambush predator relies on its ability to sense electric fields produced by other sea creatures, thanks to its ampullae of Lorenzini. Once a target is detected, it swiftly projects its jaws to capture the prey with its sharp nail-like teeth.

Goblin Sharks have a varied diet that includes deep-sea teleost fishes, cephalopods like squid, and crustaceans. Their ability to extend their jaws allows them to catch fast-moving prey with surprising speed. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are not considered a threat to humans, primarily due to their deep-sea habitat and diet preferences.

Goblin Sharks can reach notable sizes, with adults typically measuring between 3 to 4 meters in length. The largest recorded specimen was over 6 meters long, according to research. However, due to the depths at which they live, encounters with these sharks are uncommon, making comprehensive size data limited.

Currently, the conservation status of the Goblin Shark is listed as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is largely due to the infrequency of their capture in fisheries and their wide distribution. However, the deep-sea habitats of Goblin Sharks are not well-monitored, so their population trends are not fully understood.

The Goblin Shark's most striking feature is its protruding snout, resembling a blade or trowel, which is much longer than those of other sharks. Its skin is semi-translucent, revealing blood vessels beneath, and has a pinkish hue due to visible blood vessels under its pale skin. The combination of these features gives it a ghoulish appearance, hence the name "Goblin Shark."