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Impurest's Guide to Animals #73 - Goblin Shark

After a long week of catching Common Toads (Bufo bufo), it’s time to relax and write up a new Impurest’s Guide to Animals. Last week we looked at the mysterious Ghost Bat and the deadly white nose fungus that’s destroying entire populations. This week’s issue is a deep sea request from @ironspiderchan45. Hope you guys enjoy.

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Issue #73 – Goblin Shark

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Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class – Chondricthyes

Order – Lamnifrormes

Family – Mitskurinidae

GenusMitskurina

Speciesowstoni

Related Species – The Goblin Shark is the only extant member of the Mitskurinidae family (1)

Range – Goblin Sharks have been found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, often at water depths between 270 - 950m deep/

Deep Sea Stalker

The Goblin Shark is a deep sea shark, with an average length of just under four meters in length, although one specimen was recorded of having a length of six meters. Unlike many other shark species weight doesn’t correlate with length, and potentially varies on how well the shark had been feeding. The most distinctive feature of the Goblin Shark, is the elongated snout, which decreases in length as the shark grows, and contains rows of electro-receptive sensors which are used in navigation. When alive, the skin of the Goblin Shark is pink due to the blood vessels positioned just under the skin (2), although the colouration gets darker as the fish ages, eventually turning grey or brown after death.

Despite being distantly related to fast moving species such as the Mako Sharks (Isurus sp), the Goblin Shark is a slow moving predator, with a poorly developed muscle-structure, instead relying on ambush tactics to catch prey such as teslot fish and squid. When in range, the shark relaxes the tension on the jaw muscles, causing the mouth to catapult open, using the change in water pressure to suck prey into the mouth. While fairly large, the Goblin Shark is occasionally preyed on (at least in part of its range) by the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca).

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Little is known about Goblin Shark reproduction, although all its relatives are viviparous, giving birth to a small litter of pups. Young appear to be quite large, with an apparent new born being over two foot in length. Young sharks appear to live in shallower water, of around 100 to 350m in depth (3), possibly to avoid being cannibalised by the larger adults, and to find enough food to reach sexual maturity.

Five Fun Goblin Shark Facts

The name Goblin Shark comes from the translation of the Japanese name, Tenguzame, for this species. This name, in-turn comes from the word Tengu, a goblin like creature with a long snout and red face found in Japanese folklore (4).

Fossil species from the genus Mitskurina have been found in rocks dating back 40 million years, making it one of the oldest extant shark genus

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Because of this, as well as several primitive physiological features, the Goblin Shark is often referred to as a living fossil

Despite its lethargic nature, the Goblin Shark can be aggressive, as evidence by a tooth embedded in a deep sea cable

The Goblin Shark isn’t the only cartilaginous fish with a weird snout. The Elephant Shark (Callorinchus milli) uses its hoe shaped snout to find prey on the sea-floor

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References

1. www.arkive.org

2. Last, P.R.; Stevens, J.D. (2009). Sharks and Rays of Australia (second ed.). Harvard University Press.

3. Duffy, C.A.J.; Ebert, D.A.; Stenberg, C. (2004). "Mitsukurina owstoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature

4. Castro, J.H. (2011). The Sharks of North America. Oxford University Press. pp. 202–205

Picture References

1. http://www.hodderscape.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/goblin-shark-2.jpg

2. http://otlibrary.com/wp-content/gallery/goblin-shark/11.jpg

3. http://www.fossilguy.com/gallery/vert/fish-shark/goblin/800px-Scapanorhynchus.jpg

4. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Elephant_shark_melb_aquarium.jpg

And with that, the Goblin Shark descends into the depths, and into what will probably be an upcoming B-Movie. Next week find out which noble animal proves that the pen is mightier than the sword, but until then critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

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