The goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, is a highly unusual deep-sea inhabitant characterized by its distinctive morphology. This rare creature possesses a long, flattened, blade-like snout and a set of highly protrusible jaws lined with needle-like teeth. Its skin is a unique pinkish hue due to visible blood vessels beneath its nearly translucent surface, an adaptation to its dark environment. As the sole living member of the ancient shark family Mitsukurinidae, the goblin shark is often referred to as a “living fossil,” representing a lineage that has survived for over 125 million years.
Pinpointing the Initial Discovery
The first specimen of the goblin shark formally recognized by science was discovered in the late 19th century. This initial discovery occurred in 1898 off the coast of Japan, specifically in Sagami Bay near Yokohama. The shark was not captured during a scientific expedition but was recovered incidentally by a local fisherman working in the deep waters of the bay.
The recovered specimen was an immature male, measuring about 107 centimeters (42 inches) in length. This unusual catch was acquired by Alan Owston, a British resident of Yokohama and a keen collector of Asian wildlife. Owston recognized the specimen’s rarity and presented it to the academic community for examination.
He subsequently gave the shark to Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri, a distinguished zoologist at the University of Tokyo. This exchange moved the specimen from an accidental catch into the hands of scientists. The discovery was a chance event facilitated by an interested collector and a Japanese academic, rather than a targeted deep-sea search.
The Naming and Scientific Classification
Following its acquisition, the specimen was passed to the American ichthyologist David Starr Jordan. Jordan formally described the species in an 1898 issue of the Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. He determined the creature was so distinct that it warranted classification as a new species, a new genus, and a new family, Mitsukurinidae.
Jordan assigned the shark the binomial name Mitsukurina owstoni to honor the individuals who ensured its study. The genus name, Mitsukurina, honors Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri, who brought the specimen to Jordan’s attention. The species epithet, owstoni, acknowledges Alan Owston, the collector who originally secured the shark.
Why It Remained Hidden for So Long
The primary reason the goblin shark remained unknown until the late 19th century is its exclusive deep-sea habitat. It is a bathyal species, living along the upper continental slopes and seamounts in waters generally below 200 meters (660 feet). Its confirmed range often extends to depths of 1,000 to 1,300 meters (3,300 to 4,300 feet), a zone characterized by perpetual darkness and high pressure.
These depths were largely inaccessible to standard fishing and scientific sampling equipment until the late 1800s. The deployment of robust deep-sea trawling and longline gear finally allowed humans to inadvertently encounter these organisms. Even today, the goblin shark is rarely seen, with most sightings resulting from accidental capture as bycatch in deep-water fisheries.