Like many species with a deep-sea affinity, scientists believe goblin sharks only come near the surface at night and spend most of their lives in the dark. When the goblin shark species was first discovered off the coast of Japan in 1898, it set off a case of scientific déjà vu.Researchers realized that they had seen goblin sharks before -- not swimming in the seas, but in fossil remains. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. Mitsukurinidae: pictures (1) Genus Mitsukurina. Males can reach up to lengths of 12.6 feet (3.8 meters), and females can reach up to lengths of 12.2 feet (3.7 meters). Goblin Shark – Mitsukurina owstoni Among all sharks, this species stands out for its unusual appearance characterized by a prominent snout. Goblin sharks are a species of fish that usually live at the bottom of the ocean along continental shelves (or a continent's edges). The Goblin Shark has been caught in scattered localities through the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Mitsukurina: pictures (1) ... ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. The bulk of this species’ diet consists of fish in the teleost infraclass, including dragonfish, rattails, anglerfish, and more. Family Mitsukurinidae Goblin shark. Diet of the Goblin Shark. The goblin shark seldom comes in contact with humans; however, because of its large size, it could be potentially dangerous. -The Goblin Shark can swim incredibly stealthily without shifting the flow of water, making it … Conservation. Lives in deeper water, down to 1200 m, close to bottom. > Check the status of the goblin shark at the IUCN website. The Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a species of shark from the deep sea. The Goblin shark has soft, pale, pink-gray skin (paler on the belly), low, rounded fins and a long, asymmetrical tail fin. Sometimes called “living fossils”, the only existing representative of the family is Mitsukurinida, whose lineage is about 125 million years old. Like other Lamniform sharks , the Goblin shark has an anal fin, 5 gill slits, 2 dorsal fins, no fin spines, mouth behind the eyes, and no nictitating eyelids. Its mouth can protrude outward, allowing it to trap prey in front of it or reach prey slightly farther away from it. They are also known to feed on crustaceans and cephalopods like squid. Shark fossils from the Scapanorhynchus species dating back more than 100 million years bore striking resemblance to the goblin shark [source: Bright]. -The Goblin Shark has a mouth designed to suck any smaller animals inside its mouth by projecting its jaw at prey. In Australia it is known from off New South Wales, Tasmania and possibly from off South Australia. The goblin shark is a fascinating species that lives in the open ocean from near the surface down to depths of at least 4265 feet (1300 m). They have narrow snouts and fanglike teeth. These sharks will prey on fish found both on the sea floor and in the water column. Feeding Little-known species. Inhabits outer shelf and upper slope areas. -The Goblin Shark can go without food for extremely long amounts of time. The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. It is the only living member of the Mitsukurinidae family, and it is often called a “living fossil” since its ancestry goes back to the Cretaceous period and it keeps such primitive characteristics. Goblin shark, scientific name Mitsukurina owstoni is a rare species of deep-sea sharks. The unique bladelike snout may be used as a forward-projecting prey detector. 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