in News
Scientists have obtained deep-sea video evidence of two goblin sharks, with one sighted in the Tonga Trench (shown) and another near Jarvis Island.(Image credit: Minderoo-University of Western Australia Deep-Sea Research Center and Inkfish)
- Facebook
- X
- Reddit
- Pinterest
- Flipboard
Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
For the very first time, researchers have captured underwater footage of the rarely seen goblin shark, expanding its known habitat significantly into the Central Pacific and to depths approaching 6,560 feet (2,000 meters).
The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a deep-sea species characterized by its extended snout and jaws that can rapidly extend to capture prey. This species, which has existed for approximately 125 million years, is often referred to as a “living relic.” Prior to this, live sightings were exceedingly brief, typically occurring only when the sharks were accidentally caught on fishing lines and brought to the surface, according to a recent investigation.
The recent video recordings documented two separate goblin shark encounters — one in the vicinity of Jarvis Island in the South Central Pacific Ocean, and another within the Tonga Trench in the Southwest Pacific. Scientists hypothesize that goblin sharks inhabit oceans worldwide, given their occasional capture in various locales, though documented evidence remains scarce. Currently, goblin sharks have been documented only in limited zones of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, along with scattered areas off the coasts of western the U.S., Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
“The goblin shark is a fascinating deep-sea creature, and I had never imagined we would witness one alive,” stated Alan Jamieson, a co-author of the study and director at the Minderoo-University of Western Australia Deep-Sea Research Centre, in a press release.
Beyond the remarkable achievement of filming goblin sharks in their native environment for the first time, the individual observed in the Tonga Trench was found at a depth of approximately 6,550 feet (1,997 m), which is 2,300 feet (700 m) deeper than any previously recorded goblin shark, according to Jamieson.
“During that research voyage, we recorded over 50 days of continuous footage at depths ranging from 800 to 10,800 meters [2,600 to 35,400 feet], and this particular sighting lasted just over 20 seconds, which underscores the rarity of this species and the significance of documenting two observations within a single study,” he remarked.
The researchers recorded the observation in the Tonga Trench in August 2024, while the sighting near Jarvis Island occurred in July 2019. The goblin shark in the Tonga Trench was presumed to be female and was observed moving along the trench’s northern incline, the research team noted in their findings.
The shark encountered near Jarvis Island was a mature male, with researchers estimating its age at 51.5 years.
(Image credit: Minderoo-University of Western Australia Deep-Sea Research Center and Inkfish)RELATED STORIES
- Why did a weird goblin shark going viral on Twitter blow up into a bizarre scientific spat?
- Mysterious ‘nightmare’ shark with unnerving human-like smile dragged up from the deep sea
- Weird demon shark with bright white eyes discovered off Australia
Conversely, the goblin shark observed near Jarvis Island was a male exceeding 11 feet (3.4 m) in length and likely over 51 years of age. It was seen moving over an uncharted seamount at a depth of 4,058 feet (1,237 m), according to the investigation, which was published on May 19 in the Journal of Fish Biology.
“Groundbreaking discoveries like these highlight the vastness of unexplored regions within our deep ocean environments,” remarked Aaron Judah, the lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate in biological oceanography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in the statement. “Considering the recently expanded geographical distribution of the goblin shark, this species is now eligible for inclusion in regional conservation efforts and a nation’s inventory of biodiversity.”
Shark quiz: Test your knowledge of these remarkable marine predators!
