Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks) > Mitsukurinidae (Goblin shark)
Etymology: Mitsukurina: -ina (L.), belonging to: University of Tokyo zoologist Kakichi Mitsukuri (1858-1909), who placed holotype (provided by Alan Owson, see species) of this “very remarkable shark” in Jordan’s “hands to be identified, figured, and described”. (See ETYFish); owstoni: In honor of Alan Owston (1853-1915), English businessman, yachtsman, collector of Asian wildlife, and resident of Yokohama, Japan, who secured holotype from a fisherman (named for Owston at the request of Kakichi Mitsukuri, see genus). (See ETYFish)
More on author: Jordan.

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 30 - 1300 m (Ref. 43278) usually 270 - 960 m (Ref. 43278); deep-water; 48°N - 55°S180°W - 180°E.

Western Atlantic: Guyana (Ref. 6871), Suriname (Ref. 13608, 11228) and French Guiana. Eastern Atlantic: France (Bay of Biscay), Madeira, Portugal, and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: off South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia (South Australia, New South Wales), New Zealand (Ref. 26346). Eastern Pacific: USA (southern California) (Ref. 43278).

Maturity: L_m 293.0, range 264 - 322 cm
Max length: 617 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 83323); common length: 200 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 5217).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Flat, bladelike, elongated snout, tiny eyes without nictitating eyelids, soft, flabby body, slender, very long cusped teeth in long, protrusible jaws, long caudal fin without a ventral lobe (Ref. 247). Pinkish-white with bluish fins, becoming brownish grey after death (Ref. 5578, 11228).

Found on outer continental shelves and upper slopes, but rarely in shallow water close inshore (Ref. 247, 43278). Jaws are highly specialized for rapid projection from the head to snap up small animals (Ref. 247). Feeds on jacopever, pelagic octopus and crabs (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 50449). Probably slow-moving and neutrally buoyant (Ref. 6871). Utilized dried salted (Ref. 247)

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed (Ref. 247, 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)

  Least Concern (LC); date assessed: July 02 2017

Not Evaluated

Not Evaluated

  Harmless (Ref. 6871)

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Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 3.8 - 13.7, mean 8.3 °C (based on 1037 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 1.5 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.1 ±0.6 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec assumed to be <10).

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Iron = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Protein = 0 [0, 0] %; Omega3 = 0 [0, 0] g/100g; Selenium = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; Zinc = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g (wet weight);