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Goblin Shark Facts and Information - The Details

The goblin shark is the only living species in the genus Mitsukurina. Fossil goblin shark relatives are usually placed in related genera such as Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon, although the exact relationships among these ancient sharks have been debated.

Order: Lamniformes; Family: Mitsukurinidae; Living genus: Mitsukurina; Important fossil genera: Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon.

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Goblin Shark Distribution and Habits

Mitsukurina owstoni, the living goblin shark or elfin shark, is rarely encountered because it lives in deep water. Historically, many recorded specimens have come from Japan, but goblin sharks have also been reported from places such as Australia, Portugal, South Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and California.

Although the goblin shark is rarely seen, that does not necessarily mean it is extremely rare. Its scarcity in collections is probably related to its deep-water habitat. Most specimens are associated with continental slopes, often hundreds of meters below the surface. Because goblin sharks live far below normal swimming and fishing depths, they have very little interaction with people.

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Goblin Shark Physical Description

The goblin shark has one of the strangest appearances of any living shark. Its long, flat snout, small eyes, pinkish-gray color, soft body, and extendable jaws make it instantly recognizable.

When Japanese fishermen caught these sharks around the turn of the 20th century, they called them tenguzame, a name often translated as "goblin shark." The name fits because the shark has a long, blade-like snout and jaws that can protrude from the mouth when feeding.

The pinkish color comes from blood vessels and flesh beneath the skin. In the deep ocean, where little or no sunlight reaches, strong coloration is not very useful. The eyes are also small, and the long snout helps compensate by carrying sensory organs that can detect prey.

Adult goblin sharks average around 11 feet in length, although larger individuals have been reported.

Video showing a goblin shark swimming and using its jaws.

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Goblin Shark Jaw and Dentition

The goblin shark's most famous feature is its protrusible jaw. The jaws can rapidly project forward out of the mouth, allowing the shark to snatch prey in deep water.

In the deep ocean, where there is little light, the goblin shark's small eyes are less important than its sensory snout. Its long, flat rostrum contains electroreceptors that help detect prey.

The jaws sit on a flexible ligament system and can shoot forward during feeding. This is somewhat similar in function to a frog's tongue extending toward prey, except the goblin shark projects the entire jaw forward.

Goblin sharks have long, slender, peg-like teeth similar in general appearance to sand tiger shark teeth. This type of dentition is well suited for grasping prey and swallowing it whole.

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Prehistoric Goblin Sharks: A Tale of a Living Fossil

Goblin sharks are often called living fossils because the modern species belongs to a lineage with ancient fossil relatives. Important goblin shark genera include the living Mitsukurina and the fossil genera Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon.

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Mitsukurina owstoni - The Living Goblin Shark

The living goblin shark is placed in the genus Mitsukurina. Some fossil forms have been compared closely with Mitsukurina, and there has been debate over whether certain fossil genera, especially Scapanorhynchus, should be treated separately or grouped more closely with the living genus. At present, there is only one living species: Mitsukurina owstoni.

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Scapanorhynchus sp. - Extinct Goblin Shark
Lower to Upper Cretaceous

Scapanorhynchus is an extinct goblin shark relative that closely resembles the living Mitsukurina. The genus has a broad distribution, and several species have been attributed to it. Three widely recognized species are S. lewisii, S. rapax, and S. texanus.

The most common species in the United States is Scapanorhynchus texanus. It is commonly reported from Cretaceous deposits along the East Coast and Gulf Coast. One place to find these fossil goblin shark teeth is the Big Brook, New Jersey fossil hunting location.

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Anomotodon sp. - Extinct Goblin Shark
Lower Cretaceous to Oligocene

Anomotodon appears to have been a successful prehistoric goblin shark relative. Unlike Scapanorhynchus, it continued past the Cretaceous and is found in Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene deposits.

The most common species in the United States is Anomotodon novus. It is reported from Eocene and Paleocene deposits along the East Coast, including fossil sites along the Potomac River in Maryland.

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Identification of Fossil Goblin Shark Teeth: Scapanorhynchus texanus

Scapanorhynchus texanus is the most common fossil goblin shark tooth found in many Cretaceous deposits of the eastern United States. These teeth can be confused with smaller sand tiger shark teeth, but several features help identify them.

Diagnostic characteristics of fossil goblin shark teeth include heavily striated anterior teeth, striations that may continue onto the root in unworn anterior and lateral teeth, a deep nutrient groove in the root, and one or two cusplets on many teeth.

• Anterior teeth are heavily striated, with grooves running up the enamel.
• In unworn teeth, striations may continue onto the root.
• The roots usually have a deep nutrient groove.
• Many teeth have one or two small cusplets.
• Fossil goblin shark teeth can resemble sand tiger shark teeth, so root and striation details are important.

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Images of Fossil Goblin Shark Teeth

The images below show different fossil goblin shark tooth forms, including Scapanorhynchus texanus from Cretaceous deposits and Anomotodon novus from Paleogene deposits.

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High Quality Shark Teeth by Fossilera

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References / Scientific Sources

Florida Museum. Goblin Shark, Mitsukurina owstoni Species Profile. Florida Museum species profile.

International Union for Conservation of Nature. Mitsukurina owstoni species assessment. IUCN Red List.

Jordan, David Starr. (1898). Original scientific description of Mitsukurina owstoni based on a specimen from Japan.

Fossilguy.com fossil collecting guides. Big Brook, New Jersey and Potomac River, Maryland fossil shark tooth identification pages.

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