Species page
Goblin Shark
A deep-sea ambush shark with an extendable jaw.
Mitsukurina owstoni
Least concern
Overview
Goblin sharks are deep-slope specialists with a long blade-like snout and remarkable projecting jaws. A single glance at the head shape is usually enough to place them, even when little else is visible. The long flattened snout and highly protrusible jaws make this family instantly recognizable. The body is soft and flabby compared with active pelagic sharks. Goblin sharks are recorded from deep continental slopes and submarine canyons in many ocean basins, but captures are scattered and infrequent.
They are deepwater sharks, usually associated with slope environments rather than shallow coasts.
A famous example of deep-sea shark weirdness.
Why it matters: The jaws can shoot forward dramatically, giving goblin sharks one of the most unusual feeding strikes among sharks.
Common nameGoblin Shark
Scientific nameMitsukurina owstoni
FamilyMitsukurinidae
OrderLamniformes
Max length4.0 m
Depth range270 to 1300 meters
ConservationLeast concern
RegionDeep continental slopes worldwide
DietFish, squid, crustaceans
HabitatDeep sea canyons and slopes
Why it stands outSlingshot-style protruding jaw
What this shark is
The long flattened snout and highly protrusible jaws make this family instantly recognizable. The body is soft and flabby compared with active pelagic sharks.
Where it lives
Goblin sharks are recorded from deep continental slopes and submarine canyons in many ocean basins, but captures are scattered and infrequent.
They are deepwater sharks, usually associated with slope environments rather than shallow coasts.
How it differs from similar sharks
Slingshot-style protruding jaw
Compare it against American Pocket Shark, Dwarf Lanternshark, and Frilled Shark.
Why it is notable
Human interaction is negligible outside deepwater capture. It is a shark most people will know only from preserved specimens or rare images.
Species-level taxonomy was verified from Sharkipedia's current species list and taxonomy workbook. In this pass, the narrative fields are cautious family-level placeholders synthesized from broad shark references, chiefly the FAO Sharks of the World catalogue, because a stronger multi-source species-level synthesis was not assembled here without risking invented detail. Replace this with a direct species-level synthesis before publication in the app.
Related shark pages
These links are meant to help readers continue through related species, not force extra clicks.
American Pocket Shark
Tiny deep-sea shark with glowing pocket glands near its front fins.
0.1 m maxData deficient
Dwarf Lanternshark
One of the smallest sharks on Earth.
0.2 m maxData deficient
Frilled Shark
A deep-water, eel-like shark with frilled gill slits.
2.0 m maxLeast Concern