For the first time, one of the world’s most unusual sharks, the Goblin Shark (Mituculina Ostni), has been photographed in its natural habitat, as detailed in a recent study published in the Fish Biology Journal.

The observation occurred in 2019 by a research team from the University of Hawaii at Manoa while sailing near Jervis Island in the South Pacific.

Renowned for its retractable jaws, the deep-sea Goblin Shark can extend its mouth rapidly at speeds of up to 3.1 meters per second, allowing it to catch unsuspecting fish. These sharks are often brought to the surface by fishermen from depths reaching 1,200 meters (3,940 feet), further adding to their enigmatic nature, with reports of a dead specimen.

“Witnessing such an iconic deep-sea shark thriving in its natural environment is a unique and remarkable honor,” stated Dr. Aaron Judah, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate in Oceanography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

“We were astonished to find this species at such depths. Observations from the slopes of the Tonga Trench indicate it was nearly 700 meters deeper than previously recorded for this species.”

The footage of the Goblin Shark was recorded using a camera attached to Hercules, an underwater drone. However, the identification of the shark was confirmed later by Judah through recordings of the expedition’s livestream.

The second sighting occurred near the Tonga Trench by the Minderu UWA Deep Sea Research Center, which utilized a baited camera attached to a bottom lander, a device employed by oceanographers for ocean floor experiments.

Typically, Goblin Sharks can grow up to 3.6 meters (12 feet) in length, with their distinctively long, flat snouts accounting for a significant portion of their length.

These creatures are notoriously elusive, featuring fewer sightings compared to other deep-sea enigmas like the giant squid or Mariana Trench ghost fish. Consequently, knowledge about them remains limited to their fascinating yet alarming feeding habits.

While the mystique surrounding Goblin Sharks has been somewhat lessened in recent years due to sporadic sightings in different locations, including the Canary Islands and off the Japanese coast, they remain a marvel of deep-sea biodiversity.

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