Goblin Shark | Oceana
Home / Goblin Shark
Marine Life Encyclopedia > Sharks & Rays > Goblin Shark

Goblin Shark

The goblin shark gets its fearsome name from its long snout and gaping jaws, which give it a spooky “goblin-like” appearance. This mysterious and rarely seen shark dwells in the darkness of the deep ocean.

 

Goblin sharks can likely grow at least up to 5.5-6 meters (18-20 feet) long, although this is only speculation due to how few specimens have ever been seen. They are thought to live mostly in the deep ocean near continental slopes and seamounts up to 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) down, although some small individuals have also been spotted near the ocean surface.  

Due to the depths and darkness at which they live, it is thought that goblin sharks do not rely on eyesight as much to find their prey, instead likely relying on smell, sound, and special organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which can sense electric fields produced by other animals. Their narrow teeth suggest that they likely feed on a variety of prey, including octopuses, fish, shrimps, squids, and crabs.  These sharks may swim slowly waiting for animals to come within striking distance before they quickly extend their unusual jaws to snap up prey.  

 

 

Very few live goblin sharks have been observed in the wild, and most of what is known about these mysterious sharks comes from individuals that have been caught accidentally as bycatch in deepwater trawling nets, longlines, or deep-set gill nets. Although there is a lack of information around the goblin sharks’ population, they are not known to be declining and are classified globally as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

 

 

While goblin sharks are rarely caught as a result of bycatch, accidental capture by fisheries can pose a serious threat to other species around the world. Each year, fishing gear kills or injures millions of non-targeted animals as bycatch, including sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, and sea turtles, some of which are vulnerable or endangered ocean species. You can learn more about Oceana’s campaign to protect ocean species from being unintentionally caught up in fishing gear here.

 

 

 

GET INVOLVED

DONATE TODAY

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.

DONATE

TAKE ACTION NOW

SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE FOR THE OCEANS

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

ACT NOW

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

SHOP THE STORE

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

LEARN MORE

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-569-4895
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: