Goblin Shark Caught on Camera

Elusive Goblin Shark Has World's Most Terrifying Jaws

In the movie Labyrinth, David Bowie stars as Jareth the Goblin King, stealing babies and casually punting his subjects during musical numbers. He doesn’t look anything like you’d expect a goblin to because he’s actually a fairy of sorts, which get to have better hair and accessorize more with tiaras and stuff. This of course makes Bowie a pretender to the throne.

But in the deep seas around the world swims a true goblin king with no interest in righteous hairstyles: the mysterious goblin shark, whose spring-loaded jaws are surely the animal kingdom’s most incredible chompers. Freaky freaky, as Bowie might say.

First described in 1898, the goblin shark had already been known to Japanese fishermen, who called ittengu-zame, tengu being a mythical goblin with an extremely long nose that looked a bit like Pinocchio, except like Jareth it kidnapped children instead of teaching them not to lie. The shark, which grows up to 12.5 feet long, swims at depths of over 4,000 feet and remains poorly understood, though with each new specimen we’re building a better picture of its incredible adaptations to the deep-sea lifestyle.

Most dramatic, of course, are its highly protrusive jaws packed with needle-like teeth meant to trap, not slice. Sharks are able to project their mouths in this manner because the jaw is suspended by ligaments and cartilage instead of being fused to the skull. And the goblin shark takes this to the extreme with a jaw that pretty much looks like it’s trying to escape from the animal’s face.

Wired

This is the absurd creature of the week. Wow it is strange and a bit terrifying.

I scuba and have been around plenty of sharks they leave you alone unless you do something stupid like add blood to the water. However if I saw one of these things down there at the top end of the size chart I might just hang up my fins.

Probably not but it would spook me out of the water for a while. In the link they have a longer video I think this is the first footage they have ever gotten of one attacking.

Such terrible jaws!!

It's awesome ! Thank you for posting it.

Worst natural instincts EVER!....that fish had it coming!

Awesome .gif Thanks for the thread OP

reply to post by Grimpachi


Damn. That is one evil looking shark all right!

I second you about not wanting to scuba near something like that! Who only knows what other denizens of the deep are down there that we don't know about!!

And I thought I didn't like sharks before. YIKES!!!!!!

It's like the jaws dislocate... A LOT! The ocean is one thing that I want nothing to do with. It is beautiful. I love looking at it. I love the way the air smells coming off the water. I even love a lot of the aquatic life underneath....but I do not want to fraternize with them like you scuba diving death wishers out there. This is just one of the many reasons why. Eeek.

I would like to see what the deepest part of our oceans hold though. I bet that would make the eyes pop out of everybody's heads.

And I love the movie Labyrinth. A guilty confession. I force my family to watch it at least twice a year. Just thought I would add that on at the end there.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Magnificent!!

I love sharks, all sharks but these Goblin sharks are such amazing animals! Beautiful creatures!

Thanks so much for sharing this, I really enjoyed!

S&F

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


Hahaha I like the fraternizing comment

It's very interesting actually, I have snorkelled for a long time before I finally got my PADI license and when I did, it's amazing how differently fishies will treat you.

The easiest way I can describe it, is that they just think you are a big fish. Some will actively hang around near you for protection from bigger fish. It's cool stuff.

I have dived with some sharks at an island in the Solomons and they were very passive. They weren't great white's by any means but they would still take a good chunk out of you if you ticked them off.

I think i'd rather be able to see what is coming at me whilst diving than be swimming and not knowing what is below!

reply to post by Cruff


The only time I got nervous was diving in Panama and a 5ft bull shark kept following me around. It would come up behind me to the tips of my fins like it wanted a nible. I thought it was going to yank them off my feet any minute but eventualy it left me alone.

that is the single coolest thing i have seen in a while...

this is why i love Ats... every so often i come across something that just latches onto my brain and makes me want to learn everything i can about it....

it's these little diamonds amongst the Doomporn and borderline insanity that make me come back here daily..

thanks for posting this, i now have an intense urge to discover all things shark related

reply to post by Grimpachi


That was so cool!! He is an ugly thing. No wonder he is deemed a goblin.

Poor little fishy.

reply to post by Grimpachi


That would've been a bit unnerving! When I was at the Solomons and heading back to the dock, I looked behind me and saw one shark maybe about 5 metres. I thought ok cool he's just chilling out...turned around and then there were three of them. Ok, getting a bit busier here..turned around and then there was 10. I stepped up my speed a bit but they were thankfully just curious and not out for a meal haha!!

Looks like shrimpers accidentally caught 1 in the Gulf of Mexico the other day.



Goblin shark caught in Gulf of Mexico a rarity

way cool! never seen this.

4k feet down tho, won't be able to find one, diving.

i don't even get into pools! lol!!

love the ocean and it's mysteries and bounties. yum.