Goblin Sharks: Secrets of The Depths’ Most Bizarre Predators

Goblin Shark

Scientific Name: Mitsukurina owstoni
Geography:  Japan, coast of southern California and the Gulf of Mexico
Habitat:  Nutrient-scarce environments
Lifespan: Between 16 and 60 years
Diet: Fish
Conservation Status: Least concern
Threats: Fishing

Characteristics

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. What are goblin sharks, and why do they look like that? 

To start, they’re a species of deep-sea shark that live throughout the earth’s oceans. They’re especially common off the coast of Japan.

Well, common might be a bit of a strong word. In the 118 years that we’ve known about this species, only 50 individuals have been officially recorded. And in 2008, Japanese scientists filmed the first goblin shark recorded in its natural habitat. So, these sharks are quite a rare find.

Goblin sharks are pinkish-gray and can reach lengths of 11 feet (3.4 m). However, one specimen captured in 2000 supposedly measured 20 feet long (6 m).

Their most distinguishing feature is their long snout, called a rostrum. Their rostrum is covered in sense organs that detect electrical currents produced by other fish. This helps them locate prey in the low light of the deep sea.

In addition to their rostrums, goblin sharks have long tails and protruding jaws. Their jaws also act as a hunting aid. They can shoot their jaws forward at speeds of 3.1 meters per second (10 ft/s). That’s faster than most snakes can strike!

Goblin sharks are slow-moving. Having such a fast and far-reaching jaw gives them an advantage when hunting prey faster than them.

Goblin sharks also have long, jagged teeth that look very different from standard shark teeth. They protrude out of the mouth even when closed, adding to their unsightly appearance. 

Extendable Jaw

Let’s take a closer look at a goblin shark’s extendable jaw.

Researchers break down the movements of the goblin shark’s jaw into four phases. First is the resting phase. Next is the expansive phase, the compressive phase, and finally, the recovery phase.

The resting phase is the goblin shark at its most ordinary. This is their standard swimming and exploring phase. Even so, the mouth hangs slightly open as if in anticipation for prey to swim by.

The expansive phase is when a goblin shark locates food and shoots its jaw toward it. Their mouth opens a staggering 111 degrees wide. 

For comparison, human mouths can only open to 50 degrees wide. So if you had a jaw like a goblin shark, your chin could rest on the top of your ribcage without lowering your head.

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Range and Habitat

In addition, muscle mass is hardly formed, and their fins are floppy and small. All of these features suggest that goblin sharks are slow-moving and sluggish.

That said, they are suited for their specific environments. For example, their rostrum helps them locate prey. In addition, their detachable jaw allows them to capture food without spending too much energy.

Also, despite living in low-light environments, goblin sharks can and do use their eyes. However, their eyesight is weak compared to their rostrum’s sensory capabilities.

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Diet and Hunting

Goblin sharks primarily feed on fish, including angler fish. They also feed on shellfish and might even scarf down some squid when they can catch them.

Little is known about how goblin sharks hunt because so few have been studied in their natural habitats. However, they are thought to be ambush predators rather than active hunters. 

Goblin sharks are low-density creatures with large, oily livers. These characteristics help them float through the water without exerting too much energy.

Using their rostrum to detect prey, they float toward their target with minimal movement to avoid detection. Then, once they’re close enough to their prey, their jaws extend forward instantly, engulfing the prey whole.

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Behavior and Relationship With Humans

Aside from feeding habits, little is known about goblin shark behavior. However, because they live at such depths, it’s safe to say they are little threat to humans.

The first writings on goblin sharks were published in 1910 by Dr. I Hussakof. He described the shark as “grotesque” and commented on its “curiously elongated nose.” Since then, goblin sharks have fascinated humans because so little is known about them.

Some live specimens were captured in Japan and brought to aquariums. Unfortunately, the specimens died shortly after they arrived at the aquariums.

Besides researchers and the occasional fisherman, interactions between goblin sharks and humans are rare. Perhaps that’s for the best. And you can rest easy knowing that you won’t bump into these “grotesque” creatures when swimming at the beach.

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Life Cycle and Reproduction

Little is known about goblin sharks’ life cycle or how they reproduce. No pregnant females have been observed or studied. 

However, researchers believe they share similar reproduction characteristics to sharks like thresher sharks. They are considered viviparous, meaning babies develop within their mother’s womb rather than in eggs.

The smallest recorded goblin shark was 32 inches (81 cm) long. This is likely their size at birth, but the exact length isn’t known. 

Males reach sexual maturity when they are around 8 feet long (2.4 m). It’s unknown when females are able to reproduce.

It’s also unknown how long goblin sharks live for, but some researchers believe they can live anywhere between 16 and 60 years.

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Conservation Status

The exact population estimates for goblin sharks are unknown. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists goblin sharks as a species of Least Concern.

Fishermen don’t target goblin sharks as they have no real market. This means that goblin shark populations are spared from overfishing. That being said, they are often found tangled in fishing nets, and accidental catches aren’t uncommon.

In one instance, in 2003, over 100 goblin sharks were unintentionally captured by fishermen. Why so many goblin sharks were in one area is unknown, but the event did come right after a major earthquake which might have some correlation.

The captured goblin sharks were either sold for meat or released. Unfortunately, no researchers were present to record them, hence why only 50 are said to be officially recorded.

Also, goblin shark meat can be consumed by humans. Sometimes goblin shark’ jaws are sold as collector’s items as well. 

Even so, fishing poses little threat to goblin sharks, and for now, their populations appear stable. It’s a good thing too. It’d be a shame if such a unique creature went extinct, even if they are scary to look at.

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