A Shark with Ancient Roots
The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a unique deep-sea predator and the sole surviving member of a lineage dating back 125 million years. Its long, flat snout and extendable jaws give it an otherworldly appearance, earning it the nickname “living fossil.”
Adapted to the Depths
Found at depths of over 100 meters, the goblin shark inhabits submarine canyons, continental slopes, and seamounts worldwide. Adults are typically 3–4 meters long, but some reach up to 6 meters. They use specialized ampullae to detect electrical signals from prey.
A Predator’s Strike
Goblin sharks feed on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their protrusible jaws, powered by elastic ligaments, snap forward to capture prey with remarkable speed. These movements have been captured on film, revealing their highly unique feeding mechanism.
Rare but Safe
Rarely caught due to their deep habitats, goblin sharks pose no threat to humans. Classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, they are occasionally bycatch in fisheries but remain largely unaffected by human activity thanks to their deep-sea lifestyle.
The goblin shark, a rare deep-sea predator with roots dating back 125 million years, is a striking creature with a flat, blade-like snout and extendable jaws. Known as a “living fossil,” this pink-skinned shark thrives in the darkness of ocean depths exceeding 100 meters (330… pic.twitter.com/MKEonlm3WK
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