Goblin sharks are strange-looking deep-sea sharks with long snouts and jaws that can shoot forward to catch prey.

These unusual sharks spend most of their lives deep below the ocean surface. They are rarely seen by people, so scientists still have much to learn about how they live.

What Is a Goblin Shark?

The goblin shark is a deep-sea shark. Its scientific name is Mitsukurina owstoni.

Goblin sharks are the only living members of their shark family, called Mitsukurinidae.

Many goblin sharks are around 10 to 13 feet long, although some can grow much larger.

Goblin sharks are rarely seen alive because they usually live in deep water far below the ocean surface.

What Do Goblin Sharks Look Like?

Goblin sharks have long, flattened snouts that stick out in front of their mouths. Their eyes are small, and their bodies are soft and less muscular than those of many fast-swimming sharks.

Living goblin sharks can look pinkish because blood vessels can be seen through their pale skin.

They have long, narrow teeth that are useful for catching and holding prey.

Their most unusual feature is their jaws. A goblin shark can quickly push its jaws far forward from its head when it catches food.

What Is the History of Goblin Sharks?

Goblin sharks belong to an ancient group of sharks.

Sharks have lived in Earth’s oceans for hundreds of millions of years. Different groups of sharks developed many different body shapes and ways of finding food.

Goblin sharks are well suited for life in deep water. Their long snouts contain special sense organs, and their unusual jaws help them capture prey.

Scientists study living goblin sharks, fossils, and DNA to learn about their history and how they are related to other sharks.

Where Do Goblin Sharks Live?

Goblin sharks have been found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

They usually live in deep water along the edges of continents. Many are found hundreds of feet below the ocean surface, and they have been recorded at depths of more than 4,000 feet.

Goblin sharks are often found near the ocean floor along deep underwater slopes.

Because their habitat is difficult for people to explore, scientists do not see goblin sharks very often.

Goblin Shark Behavior

Scientists know less about goblin shark behavior than they do about many sharks that live closer to the surface.

Goblin sharks are thought to be fairly slow swimmers. Their soft bodies and long tails are different from the powerful bodies of fast sharks such as makos.

Their long snouts contain special sense organs that can detect tiny electrical signals made by other animals. This can help goblin sharks find prey in deep, dark water.

What Do Goblin Sharks Eat?

Goblin sharks are predators that eat animals found in deep ocean habitats.

Their diet includes fish, squid, and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp.

Because goblin sharks are difficult to observe in the wild, scientists are still learning about everything they eat.

How Do Goblin Sharks Hunt?

Goblin sharks have one of the most unusual ways of catching prey of any shark.

Their long snouts contain sense organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini. These organs help the shark detect electrical signals produced by nearby animals.

When prey comes close, the goblin shark can quickly shoot its jaws forward. Its long teeth grab the animal before the jaws move back toward the shark’s head.

This fast jaw movement helps a goblin shark catch prey even though the shark itself may not be a fast swimmer.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Goblin sharks give birth to live young called pups.

The pups develop inside their mother’s body before they are born. They first receive food from yolk. Later, the developing pups are believed to eat unfertilized eggs produced by their mother.

Scientists know very little about goblin shark reproduction because pregnant females and newborn pups are rarely seen.

There is still much to learn about how long goblin sharks live, how quickly they grow, and how many pups they have.

Traits

• Goblin sharks have jaws that shoot forward. Their jaws can extend rapidly from the head to capture prey.
• They have long, flattened snouts. Their snouts contain sense organs that help them detect animals nearby.
• They can look pink. Blood vessels can show through their pale skin and give living goblin sharks a pinkish color.
• They live in deep water. Goblin sharks spend much of their lives far below the ocean surface.
• They are rarely seen. Their deep-sea habitat makes them difficult for scientists to observe in the wild.

Why Goblin Sharks Are Important

Goblin sharks are predators in deep-sea ecosystems.

They eat fish, squid, crustaceans, and other animals and are part of the food webs of the deep ocean.

Goblin sharks are also important to scientists. Their unusual jaws, special senses, and ancient shark family can help scientists learn more about how sharks have adapted to different ocean habitats.

Why Goblin Sharks Should Be Protected

Scientists have listed goblin sharks as Least Concern, which means they are not currently considered at high risk of extinction.

Goblin sharks are sometimes caught accidentally in fishing gear meant for other animals. This is called bycatch.

Scientists still know relatively little about goblin shark populations because these sharks live in deep water and are rarely seen.

Protecting deep-ocean habitats and learning more about goblin sharks can help scientists understand and protect these unusual animals.