Goblin Shark

ID points

• The snout juts straight forward like a long blade
• The jaws can shoot right out of the head to seize prey
• Skin is translucent, and the blood vessels give the whole body a pink cast

Basics

Family

Mitsukurinidae

Length

3.0–4.0 m

Depth

200-1300 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Deep sea

Distribution

Deep sea worldwide

Diet

Deep-sea fish, cephalopods

Easily confused with

Bull SharkStout body with a short blunt snout that looks cut off flatCaribbean Reef SharkStout body, first dorsal fin starting over the rear edge of the pectoral finsGreat White SharkGrey back and white belly, the dividing line straight and sharp

Fun fact

The Goblin Shark hunts by firing its jaws forward out of its head, a strike that takes only about 0.3 seconds. With the jaws retracted the rest of the time, its face looks strangely contorted.