The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a rare deep-sea creature that captures attention with its unusual appearance, often described as a “living fossil.” This distinctive shark possesses a long, flattened snout and a pinkish body, which hints at its deep-water lifestyle. Since it is seldom observed in its natural habitat, a primary question for researchers concerns its speed. Analyzing the goblin sharkâs performance requires understanding its unique adaptations.
Estimates of Swimming Speed
The most direct answer to how fast a goblin shark can swim is that it is considered one of the slowest-moving sharks in the ocean. Precise measurements of its sustained swimming speed are scarce or non-existent because its deep-sea habitat makes observation extremely difficult. However, the consensus among marine biologists is that the goblin shark maintains a highly inactive and sluggish existence, prioritizing energy conservation over rapid movement.
Its typical cruising speed is estimated to be exceptionally low, likely only fast enough for basic locomotion and maintaining position in the water column. The lack of powerful musculature suggests it would struggle to achieve even the moderate speeds seen in coastal sharks. This slowness is a direct reflection of its environment, where high-energy food sources are sparse, making the continuous expenditure of energy on fast swimming impractical.
Morphology and Low-Energy Movement
The physical reasons for the goblin shark’s slow speed are rooted in its deep-sea morphology, which is optimized for neutral buoyancy and minimal energy expenditure. Unlike fast-swimming sharks, the goblin shark possesses a flabby consistency and a soft, poorly calcified skeleton. This reduced bone density and soft tissue composition allow it to maintain near-perfect neutral buoyancy with minimal effort.
Its musculature is weakly developed, not built for powerful, sustained propulsion. The fins are small, soft, and inefficient for high-speed swimming. Furthermore, its long caudal fin is held at a low angle, a design typical of sharks that swim slowly and deliberately. The shark’s liver and muscle tissue contain high levels of low-density fatty acids, which further contribute to buoyancy control.
Deep-Sea Ambush Hunting
The goblin shark’s slow swimming speed does not hinder its success as a predator because it employs an effective ambush hunting strategy. This species inhabits the benthopelagic zone, typically at depths greater than 100 meters, where it lies in wait for unsuspecting prey. Its survival strategy relies on stealth and a specialized feeding mechanism rather than high-speed pursuit.
The shark uses its long, paddle-like snout, which is covered with electroreceptors called Ampullae of Lorenzini, to detect the faint electrical fields generated by nearby organisms. Once prey is located, the shark moves slowly into striking distance, relying on its camouflage and the darkness of the deep ocean to avoid detection. Its true speed is unveiled not in its body movement, but in its jaw protrusion.
The goblin shark captures its food through a rapid movement known as “slingshot feeding,” which is one of the fastest jaw protrusions documented among sharks. Its highly protrusible jaws can launch forward at speeds up to 3.1 meters per second, extending a significant distance to engulf the prey. This sudden, high-velocity strike allows the slow-moving shark to capture deep-sea squid, crustaceans, and teleost fish without needing to chase them down.