Catalog of Fishes
literature references
FishBase
Bold Systems
IUCN Red List
GBIF
NCBI GenBank
Mitsukurina owstoni
Jordan, 1898
Goblin shark
Classification: Elasmobranchii Lamniformes Mitsukurinidae
Reference of the original description
Description of a species of fish (Mitsukurina owstoni) from Japan, the type of a distinct family of Lamnoid sharks. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, (Series 3), 1, 199–202
Description of a species of fish (Mitsukurina owstoni) from Japan, the type of a distinct family of Lamnoid sharks. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, (Series 3), 1, 199–202
Image of the original description
Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898, image of the firs description
Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898, image of the firs description
Images of the original description (synonym)
Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Mitsukurina aff. owstoni, Mitsukurina cf. owstoni, Mitsukurina jordani, Mitsukurina nasuta, Odontaspis nasutus, Scapanorhynchus dofleini, Scapanorhynchus jordani, Scapanorhynchus mitsukurii, Scapanorhynchus owstoni
Mitsukurina aff. owstoni, Mitsukurina cf. owstoni, Mitsukurina jordani, Mitsukurina nasuta, Odontaspis nasutus, Scapanorhynchus dofleini, Scapanorhynchus jordani, Scapanorhynchus mitsukurii, Scapanorhynchus owstoni
Types
Mitsukurina owstoni
Holotype: ZUMT: 1455;
Odontaspis nasutus
XXXX: No types known;
Scapanorhynchus dofleini
Holotype: ZSM: (old collection) lost in WW II;
Scapanorhynchus jordani
Syntype: AMNH: 00004SW (jaws, model on display at AMNH), 48867
Scapanorhynchus mitsukurii
XXXX: No types known;
Mitsukurina owstoni
Holotype: ZUMT: 1455;
Odontaspis nasutus
XXXX: No types known;
Scapanorhynchus dofleini
Holotype: ZSM: (old collection) lost in WW II;
Scapanorhynchus jordani
Syntype: AMNH: 00004SW (jaws, model on display at AMNH), 48867
Scapanorhynchus mitsukurii
XXXX: No types known;
Description :
Citation: Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 11/2024
Please send your images of "Mitsukurina owstoni" to info@shark-references.com
Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898, Japan, eastern side of Miho Peninsula (35°00’N,138°29'E) near Shimizu city on Feb. 20, 2007, female, TL:1198mm, Precaudal Length:797mm, Body weight:4450g, TMFE 20778, Tokai Universitiy, Japan © Dr. Nicolas Straube, Curator of Ichthyology & Associate Professor, Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen
Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898, Japan, eastern side of Miho Peninsula (35°00’N,138°29'E) near Shimizu city on Feb. 20, 2007, female, TL:1198mm, Precaudal Length:797mm, Body weight:4450g, TMFE 20778, Tokai Universitiy, Japan © Dr. Nicolas Straube, Curator of Ichthyology & Associate Professor, Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen
Common names
Japanischer Nasenhai, Koboldhai, Nasenhai, Teppichhai, 
Tiburón duende, 
Requin lutin, 
Elfin shark, Elphin shark, Goblin shark, 
Squalo folletto, Squalo goblin, 
Tubarão-demónio, Tubarão-gnomo
Japanischer Nasenhai, Koboldhai, Nasenhai, Teppichhai, Tiburón duende, Requin lutin, Elfin shark, Elphin shark, Goblin shark, Squalo folletto, Squalo goblin, Tubarão-demónio, Tubarão-gnomo
Short Description
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 [518]. Pinkish-white with bluish fins, becoming brownish grey after death (Ref. 5578, 11228).
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 [518]. Pinkish-white with bluish fins, becoming brownish grey after death (Ref. 5578, 11228).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Guyana [1388], Suriname [2445] [20053] and French Guiana, Gulf of Mexico [16980] [21574], off Rio de Janeiro [15720], northern Brazil 01°23’N and 05°09’N.[15505]. Eastern Atlantic: France (Bay of Biscay), Madeira, Portugal, and South Africa, Vavilov Ridge, 7°59´ S, 0°55´ E [7223]. Western Indian Ocean: off South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia (South Australia, New South Wales), New Zealand [578], eastern Australia [2292]. Eastern Pacific: USA (southern California) [531]. Waters of Morocco (Northwest Africa)[25280], Source: www.gbif.org
Western Atlantic: Guyana [1388], Suriname [2445] [20053] and French Guiana, Gulf of Mexico [16980] [21574], off Rio de Janeiro [15720], northern Brazil 01°23’N and 05°09’N.[15505]. Eastern Atlantic: France (Bay of Biscay), Madeira, Portugal, and South Africa, Vavilov Ridge, 7°59´ S, 0°55´ E [7223]. Western Indian Ocean: off South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia (South Australia, New South Wales), New Zealand [578], eastern Australia [2292]. Eastern Pacific: USA (southern California) [531]. Waters of Morocco (Northwest Africa)[25280], Source: www.gbif.org
Human uses
Interest to fisheries none, it is usually taken as bycatch of deepwater trawl and longline fisheries [17836]
Interest to fisheries none, it is usually taken as bycatch of deepwater trawl and longline fisheries [17836]
Biology
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed [733]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. Found on outer continental shelves and upper slopes, but rarely in shallow water close inshore . Jaws are highly specialized for rapid projection from the head to snap up small animals. Goblin sharks feed mostly on bony fishes (Macrouridae, Stomiidae), cephalopods, and crustaceans, including midwater teleosts and crustaceans. Based on the prey items often consumed by these sharks it appears that they may forage off the bottom for food and may in fact occupy more of a midwater habitat than is generally assumed [17836];
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed [733]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. Found on outer continental shelves and upper slopes, but rarely in shallow water close inshore . Jaws are highly specialized for rapid projection from the head to snap up small animals. Goblin sharks feed mostly on bony fishes (Macrouridae, Stomiidae), cephalopods, and crustaceans, including midwater teleosts and crustaceans. Based on the prey items often consumed by these sharks it appears that they may forage off the bottom for food and may in fact occupy more of a midwater habitat than is generally assumed [17836];
Size / Weight / Age
Maximum total length at least 550 to 620 cm. Males possibly adult at 260 to 380 cm, female size at maturity uncertain, but likely at over 400 cm. Size at birth uncertain, but the smallest freeswimming individuals were an 81.7 cm male and a 92.8 cm female. [17836]
Maximum total length at least 550 to 620 cm. Males possibly adult at 260 to 380 cm, female size at maturity uncertain, but likely at over 400 cm. Size at birth uncertain, but the smallest freeswimming individuals were an 81.7 cm male and a 92.8 cm female. [17836]
Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=3737;
shark-references Species-ID=3737;
Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Cestoda
Copepoda
Cestoda
- Litobothrium amsichensis Caira & Runkle, 1993 [14628]
- Scyphophyllidium gobelinus (Caira & Runkle, 1993) [14628] [16929]
Copepoda
- Echthrogaleus mitsukurinae Izawa, 2012 [15359]
Image gallery
