ANIMAL SPECIES:Goblin Shark, Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898
The very strange-looking Goblin Shark has a distinctively shaped snout and an impressive array of long, pointed teeth. The fish however is found in deeper water and poses no threat to people.
Identification
The Goblin Shark has a shovel-like snout, flabby body, and a tail with a weakly developed lower lobe.
One of the distinctive features of the Goblin Shark is its protrusible mouth. The mouth can retract to a position under the eye, or extend forward under the snout.
The species was named in honour of Alan Owston (1853-1915), an "English collector of Asian Wildlife, as well as a businessman and yachtsman" (Beolens & Watkins, 2003).
Size range
The species grows to 3.8 m in length.Distribution
The Goblin Shark has been caught in scattered localities through the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
In Australia it is known from off New South Wales, Tasmania and possibly from off South Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Goblin Shark specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The species is found near the sea floor in marine waters to depths of about 1200 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
Yano and colleagues examined the stomach contents of 121 Goblin Sharks from Tokyo Submarine Canyon. Prey items included bony fishes, squids and crustaceans.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The underside of the snout is heavily pored. These pores are the external openings of the ampullae of Lorenzini, the electricity detecting organs. The Goblin Shark most likely hunts its prey by detecting electric fields.
Living with us
Danger to humans and first aid
It is not considered dangerous to humans.
Classification
- Species:
- owstoni
- Genus:
- Mitsukurina
- Family:
- Mitsukurinidae
- Class:
- Chondrichthyes
References
- Beolens, B. & M. Watkins. 2003. Whose bird? Men and women commemorated in the common names of birds. Christopher Helm. Pp. 384.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513, Pl. 1-84.
- Yano, K., Miya, M., Aizawa, M. & T. Noichi. 2003. Abstracts. 2003 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Pp. 533.
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Goblin Shark caught off Sydney View full size
John Paxton
© Australian Museum
The head of a Goblin Shark - lateral view View full size
John Paxton
© Mark McGrouther
Head of a Goblin Shark caught off Sydney View full size
John Paxton
© Australian Museum
Cookiecutter Shark bite on the body of a Goblin Shark View full size
John Paxton
© Australian Museum
Cookiecutter Shark bite on a Goblin Shark View full size
John Paxton
© Australian Museum
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