Swimming in some of the deepest waters of the ocean is the gorgeous goblin shark. This misunderstood bottom-dweller is often demonized—called creepy, disgusting and gross. But, you’ll find none of that here. This blog is an “ode to the goblin shark”. Imagine having what it takes to survive at ocean depths of 3,000 feet or more and living on this planet for about 125 million years!
And, so begins… an ode to goblin sharks. Dive in and learn more.
Goblin Sharks
Mitsukurina owstoni
Information about goblin sharks is sparse and photos of the species are extremely rare. Encounters with humans, through observation or accidental catch, are limited.
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Habitat and Size
Where do goblin sharks live? Their habitat is in the benthopelagic zone—living and feeding near the bottom of the ocean. They have been known to dive down to depths ranging between 800 and 3,000 feet. Goblin sharks live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans—usually in the upper continental slope. Scientists have recorded goblin sharks around Brazil, France, Portugal, the Gulf of Mexico, Japan, Australia and more.
The size of goblins sharks varies, and the true maximum size of the species is still unknown. It’s believed that goblin sharks grow to between nine and 20 feet long. The size at birth is not known.
Not on the Menu
Do people eat goblin sharks? No.
Physical Appearance
What color is the goblin shark? Goblin sharks have semi-translucent skin, which means that their blood vessels can be seen through their skin. That’s why the goblin shark may look different colors in different photos. They can appear a pale white, grey or pink in color.
The goblin sharks most charming feature is their long, pointy snout and their remarkable jaw. The goblin shark can launch their entire jaw forward and thus expanding the length of their deadly bite. Their jaw acts like a rubber band, catapulting forward, grabbing prey and retracting back. The jaw speed is unmatched by any other animal on Earth.
The mouth of the goblin shark is full of long lines of pointed, sharp teeth. These allow them to grip onto the fish and squid that they eat. As a deep-sea dweller, goblin sharks have poorly developed muscles and eyes. They also have very small fins and a weak skeleton.
But, goblin sharks have been swimming in the ocean for about 125 million years. They have adapted to the dark, cold depths of the ocean and survived by slowly, silently approaching its prey and using its quick jaw to grab its food.
Did You Know?
The name goblin shark comes from the Japanese translation of “tenguzame.” “Tengu” references a mythical creature with a long nose and a red face.
Slow Swimmers
As with another famous deep-water shark, the Greenland shark, the goblin shark takes an easy-going approach to life and is a very slow swimmer. Since high-energy food is hard to come by in the deep ocean, deep-water sharks do all they can to conserve their energy and not waste it by needlessly swimming fast.
How Do Goblin Sharks See?
First, goblin sharks have eyes that are able to see, but their eyes aren’t that useful in the darkness of the deep sea. Not to worry, goblin sharks can “see” or locate their prey by using electroreceptors in the nose. Their snout is full of tiny electroreceptors called ampullae of Lorenzini. While all sharks have ampullae of Lorenzini, goblin sharks have a very high density of them on their nose. These electroreceptors help the goblin detect with extreme accuracy, the tiniest of heartbeats from other animals living in the deep sea.
Diet and Reproduction
Using the electroreceptors in the nose, swimming ever-so-slowly and then retracting their lighting fast jaw… the goblins shark preys on bony fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods, like squid. There is still a lot we don’t know about how they reproduce—scientists have yet to capture or study a pregnant female. Most of the specimens observed have been subadults, meaning they haven’t yet reached reproductive maturity.
Goblin sharks are not considered dangerous to humans.
Age and Population Status
Some researchers have estimated that goblin sharks can live up to 60 years.
Although goblin sharks are rare, they’ve been categorized by the IUCN as “Least Concern,” meaning that they are not at threat of extinction. They are widely distributed and rarely seen by humans—their population numbers to remain stable.
How You Can Help Goblin Sharks
It’s up to all of us to help protect goblin sharks, the deep sea and all the animals living in the ocean. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
Please make a donation to Ocean Conservancy—give today and make a difference for the future of our ocean!
The post All About Goblin Sharks appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
This fall, Ocean Conservancy is celebrating its 41st annual International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC), once again bringing together volunteers to protect the beaches and waterways we all love. Ocean Conservancy recently hosted flagship events in Long Beach and Washington, D.C. that celebrated this global movement close to home.
Over the past four decades, nearly 20 million volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to remove more than 405 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways around the world. And their impact extends far beyond what they collect. ICC volunteers have documented nearly 440 million individual items, creating the world’s largest marine debris database and providing invaluable information that helps Ocean Conservancy and others better understand—and tackle—ocean plastic pollution.
This year’s celebration continued that incredible legacy. At Alamitos Beach in Southern California, more than 150 volunteers gathered on September 19 and removed 1,109 pounds of trash, alongside members of Team USA Artistic Swimming and Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In Washington, D.C., 439 volunteers gathered on September 26 to remove 2,182 pounds of trash from Anacostia Park along the Anacostia River.
“I am so grateful to all of the volunteers who came out today for our ocean—and every volunteer who has made the last 41 years of impact possible,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups, Allison Schutes. “Every piece of plastic collected helps protect marine animals and habitats and contributes to research and advocacy.”
And the impact doesn’t stop when the cleanup ends. During International Coastal Cleanup events, volunteers do more than remove trash: They document what they find, helping build a clearer picture of the plastic pollution threatening our waterways and wildlife. Through the Clean Swell® app or paper data sheets, ICC volunteers contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s online, open-access database, the world’s largest repository of marine debris data. These records help scientists, conservation groups and governments understand pollution trends and identify solutions.
That data can also drive meaningful policy change. ICC data were recently used in a peer-reviewed study showing that plastic bag bans lead to reduced plastic bag pollution. The data have also helped advance policies ranging from California’s SB 54 to Florida’s balloon release ban and the federal Farewell to Foam Act. From a neighborhood cleanup to statewide action, every piece of documented trash helps build the evidence needed to tackle plastic pollution at its source.
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Want to get involved?
Whether you join a local cleanup, record the trash you find using the Clean Swell app, or take action to reduce plastic pollution, you can be part of this incredible collective effort to protect our ocean. Here are a few ways to make an impact:
- Find a cleanup near you.
- Download our Clean Swell app to easily record the trash you collect.
- Take action to reduce plastic pollution.
- Explore our Wildlife Impact Calculator to estimate the potential benefits of your cleanup for marine wildlife.
- Donate today to Ocean Conservancy to help us fight plastic pollution for years to come!
The post Celebrating 41 Years of the International Coastal Cleanup® appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
For generations, stories of people being swallowed by enormous sea creatures have painted awe-inspiring tales of human survival and perseverance. From the biblical account of Jonah to the legendary battle of Hercules and Cetus to the timeless story of Pinocchio, these legendary tales have captivated people since time immemorial.
But all these stories raise the question: Could someone really be swallowed by a whale? With the premiere of the film Whalefall on October 16, 2026, you may find yourself in conversations about this very situation. Based on the bestselling 2023 thriller authored by Daniel Kraus, the film tells the story of a scuba diver who is accidentally gobbled up by a sperm whale while searching for the remains of his late father. With only an hour of oxygen left in his tank, the diver must fight to escape the whale’s gut before time runs out.
The answer to whether it’s anatomically possible for a whale to swallow a person is actually a bit more complicated than you might think.