Goblin Shark - The Shark Trust

Goblin Shark Mitsukurina owstoni
1
Lateral view 
3
2
common Name
Scientific Name
Mitsukurina owstoni (Jordan, 1898).
Goblin Shark, Elfin Shark, Requin Lutin (Fr),
Tiburón Duende (Es).
distribution
Widely distributed but little known. Found in the northeast
Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay, Portugal and Madeirai.
NE Atl
Ventral view 
identification
1 Distinctive flat, elongated snout.
2 Long, protrusible jaws, extended when dead.
3 No ventral caudal lobei.
colour
Pinkish white when living.
Blue tint to fins.
Adults darker than juvenilesiiii.
Biology and Size
Protrusible jaws are held in against elastic ligaments
whilst swimming and are released rapidly forward
when capturing prey.
Nothing is known of its reproduction or diet, although
it is believed to be ovoviviparous and its dentition
suggests soft bodied preyiii.
Map base conforms with ICES grid squares.
LMO
No Records
Occasional
Range
LC
Born: ~88cm, Mature: <335cm , <264cm ,
Max TL: 540–617cm (est.)iii.
Goblin Shark
Sponsored by:
teeth
Very long, narrow, single-cusped teeth in both jaws.
26 in the upper jaw, 24 in the loweriii.
similar species
Habitat
Continental shelves and upper slopes to at least
1,000m. Rarely encountered in shallow water (<30m)ii.
Fin arrangement suggests it is slow swimming and
inactivei.
Mitsukurina owstoni, Goblin Shark
conservation status
Although apparently rare, it has a wide distribution and
is infrequently taken by fisheriesii.
Red List status: Least Concern (2004).
commercial importance
Carcharias taurus, Sandtiger Shark
Rare bycatch of deepwater fisheries using gillnets,
longlines and trawls. Has also been found tangled in
crab pot lines.
Goblin Shark
Meat, fins, hides and livers may be utilised but this is
not common.
Jaws are valued by collectors and can be worth US
$1,500–4,000ii.
Odontaspis ferox, Smalltooth Sandtiger Shark
Handling
Handle with care.
Needle-sharp teeth.
Abrasive skin.
Apristurus aphyodes, White Ghost Catshark
references
i. Compagno, L. J. V; 1984. FAO.
LMO01/01/09
ii. Duffy, C. A. J. et al; 2004. IUCN Red List.
iii. Jordan, V; Unknown. FLMNH.