Known for its intimidating appearance and an ability to completely unhinge its jaws when feeding- dive into the depths with us to meet one of the most..interesting and rare shark species there is!
It's important to note that not a lot is known about Goblin sharks as they are an elusive, deep water shark species. What scientists do know about them comes largely from dead specimens that are caught or otherwise happened upon, in fact they are rarely observed and almost never filmed in the wild. With new technology and advances in ocean exploration on the horizon, we hope there will be many more discoveries made about this shark and others in the years to come- who knows maybe YOU can be apart of ocean discovery!
FAMILY: Mitsukurinidae
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Mitsukurina owstoni
COMMON NAMES: Goblin shark, Elfin shark, Imp shark
This species get its name from the translation of its Japanese name, ‘tengu zame’.
In Japanese folklore a ‘tengu’ is a supernatural creature depicted with a long protruding nose and red face; they are believed to live in trees found in mountainous areas. Tengu are renowned swordsmen and sometimes considered the reincarnated spirit of one who was proud or arrogant in life.
TYPE: Fish
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concerned (assessed 2017)
SIZE:
The estimated maximum size for this species can reach lengths over 16.4 ft (500 cm). Recent specimens collected suggest males mature at 8.7 ft (264 cm) and females mature at around 11 ft (335 cm). Examined mature male specimens have ranged from 9-13ft (264-384 cm) and mature females have ranged 11-12ft (335-372 cm).
WHAT'S WITH THE PINK?
Their pinkish coloration isn't actually derived from pink pigments in the shark's skin. In fact, this species has translucent dermis (skin) that enables us to see the oxygenated blood within their capillaries (tiny blood vessels).
Goblin pup size at birth is unknown but estimated by researchers to be around 80-90cm; the smallest specimen ever collected was 3.5ft (107 cm).
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AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
It's believed Goblin sharks can live up to 60 years.
Even though very little data is available about growth and aging of this species, researchers believe that Goblin males mature around 16 years, a pregnant female has never been captured.
These sharks are thought to be ovoviviparous and give live birth to a small number of relatively large young. After birth, young goblins are ready to be active predators.
DID YOU KNOW:
What was to become 'Mitsukurina owstoni' was first described by American ichthyologist David Starr Jordan in 1898, based off a young male caught off the coast of Yokohama, Japan which was acquired by a British wildlife collector Alan Oyston. Oyston gave it to Japanese zoologist Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri who subsequently presented it to Jordan. In honour of the two men, Jordan named the shark Mitsukurina owstoni.
DISTRIBUTION:
The Goblin Shark is mainly reported near continental slopes at depths between 885ft-3150ft (270-960 m) with the deepest recorded individual noted at 4265ft (1300 m). This mesopelagic species is found along outer continental shelves, upper slopes and seamounts at depths of 0- 4265ft (or up to 1,300 m) with smaller sharks being observed closer to the surface in open water.
Thought to have a worldwide habitat range in tropical to temperate latitudes, the goblin shark is truly a fascinating species that lives in the open ocean. Like many deep-sea species, scientists believe these sharks only come near the surface at night and spend most of their lives in the dark.
Most of the reported sightings have been off the eastern coast of Japan but they've been seen around New Zealand and Australia, in the western Atlantic around Brazil, the eastern Atlantic waters around Portugal and across to west Africa. Goblin sharks have been caught at depths of 1,300m and a tooth was even found stuck in an underwater cable at a depth of 1,370m!
DID YOU KNOW:
The goblin shark’s long snout is called a 'rostrum'. Their rostrum is covered with special organs (known as the ampullae of Lorenzini) that help it locate prey by detecting the electric field created by other marine animals in the pitch-dark of its ocean habitat.
DIET:
Based on the dentition and stomach contents discovered from this shark, scientists know it is a predator. Based on morphology, as its body is slim, flabby and its fins are very small it's assumed that this shark is a sluggish swimmer that accomplishes its hunting by waiting for vertically migrating animals to come within striking distance. From there it's powerful, protruding jaws take care of the rest.
The Goblin shark's iconic long, slender needle-like teeth (along with stomach contents found) suggest it mainly feeds on softer body prey like octopus, squid, fish, shrimps as well as crab.
If this shark indeed preys on migratory fish, it is likely most active in the evening and/or early morning when the migrations up from the depths occur. Another theory is these sharks actively hunt for benthic prey using electroreceptors on its snout (like hammerheads) and can also use their rostrum to dig up prey it detects underneath sand.
FUN FACT: The upper jaw of a Goblin shark has between 35-53 long, narrow teeth and the lower has 31-62 teeth with three rows of anterior teeth on each side of both jaws.
DID YOU KNOW:
Another feature that separates Goblins from most other sharks is the lack of a lower lobe on the tail fin, which is absent in other benthic sharks.
NOW WATCHING:
Video via: National Geographic
CONSERVATION:
Given its habitat, it's not surprising that these sharks seldom come in contact with humans. No reports of attacks or unprovoked bites are recorded for this shark but due to its large size, it could be potentially dangerous (as with any wild animal) if you happen upon one.
These sharks are caught as bycatch in deepwater trawls, on longlines, and deep-set gill nets. Due to lack of data available and its deep water range, it is considered by the IUCN as 'least concern' and so there are no species-specific management actions in place at this time.
Most reported captures are of juvenile sharks which suggests that the adult population occurs outside the depth range of, or is otherwise unavailable to most deepwater fisheries.
Most of these captures have been reported from Japan (Tokyo Submarine Canyon), where subadults have been taken in benthic gillnets between 100-350 m depth.
(April 2003)..In an unusual occurrence, an exceptionally large number of goblin sharks (>100) were reportedly caught off the northwest coast of Taiwan at depths ~600m following a strong earthquake in the area
Check out more in-depth information about
this species with below source links and organizations!
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