Goblin Shark
Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Chondrichthyes
Order - Lamniformes
Family - Mitsukurinidae
Genus - Mitsukurina
Species - owstoni
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Chondrichthyes
Order - Lamniformes
Family - Mitsukurinidae
Genus - Mitsukurina
Species - owstoni
Common Name
Goblin Shark
MorphologyThey have the typical shark's semi-symmetrical body. Unlike the common image of sharks, The Goblin Sharks' fins are not pointed, but instead are low and rounded, with the anal and pelvic fins significantly larger than the dorsal fins. Their tails are similar to the thresher shark's, with the upper lobe significantly longer proportionately than other sharks'. In addition, the goblin shark's tail lacks a ventral lobe.
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BiologyThe front teeth are long and smooth-edged, while the rear teeth are adapted for crushing. The pink coloration, unique among sharks, is due to blood vessels underneath a semi-transparent skin. (Which means they also bruise very easily.)
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Distribution Map
Importance: Economical and Ecological
In 2004, Mitsukurina owstoni was classified by the IUCN's Shark Red List Authority as a species of "Least Concern". The rationale given was that despite the fact that goblin shark sightings have been relatively rare, the worldwide distribution of the species, combined with the fact that it was not accidentally caught in fisheries, ensured that the species is most probably not in any reasonable danger of extinction. The goblin shark is an upper-level carnivore in its natural habitat. As a macro-organism, it has its fair share of external and internal parasites. Two new species of tapeworm were discovered in a specimen captured off Australia, Litobothrium amsichensis and Marsupiobothrium gobelinus.
Interesting facts
Next to nothing is known of the goblin shark's reproductive habits.
There is a demand by some collectors for the skeletal jaws of goblin sharks. Prices of these jaws range from US$1,500 to US$4,000.
The first goblin shark discovered was caught by a Japanese fisherman in the Kuroshio Current off the coast of Yokohama, Japan in 1897.
They are assumed to be ovoviviparous.
Goblin sharks hunt by sensing the presence of prey with electro-sensitive organs in the rostrum.
There is a demand by some collectors for the skeletal jaws of goblin sharks. Prices of these jaws range from US$1,500 to US$4,000.
The first goblin shark discovered was caught by a Japanese fisherman in the Kuroshio Current off the coast of Yokohama, Japan in 1897.
They are assumed to be ovoviviparous.
Goblin sharks hunt by sensing the presence of prey with electro-sensitive organs in the rostrum.
Vocabulary
Rostrum- The snout, or nose of the shark.
Ovoviviparous- Their eggs mature and hatch inside the mother's body and the shark gives birth to live young.
Extinction- The process of ceasing to exist.
Harvesting- To catch or kill animals for human consumption.
Buoyancy- The ability to float in a liquid, such as water.
Ovoviviparous- Their eggs mature and hatch inside the mother's body and the shark gives birth to live young.
Extinction- The process of ceasing to exist.
Harvesting- To catch or kill animals for human consumption.
Buoyancy- The ability to float in a liquid, such as water.