Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)

Scientific name: Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898

Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)

The Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a marine fish of the family Mitsukurinidae.

Biology

Found on outer continental shelves and upper slopes, but rarely in shallow water close inshore. Jaws are highly specialized for rapid projection from the head to snap up small animals. Feeds on jacopever, pelagic octopus and crabs. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. Probably slow-moving and neutrally buoyant. Utilized dried salted

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mitsukurina owstoni
Family
Mitsukurinidae (Goblin shark)
Order
Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
617
Common length
200
Depth range
30–1300 m (98–4265 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 30 - 1300 m, usually 270 - 960 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Eastern Atlantic: France, Madeira, Portugal, and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: off South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia, New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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