The goblin shark uses a terrifying, elastic catapult to snatch prey in the dark.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: This rare deep-sea dweller, often called a living fossil, hides a bizarre secret behind its long, flat snout. When prey drifts near, the goblin shark does not chase it. Instead, it launches its entire jaw forward like a spring-loaded trap, capturing meals with a speed and mechanism unlike any other shark.

The goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, is the sole surviving member of the Mitsukurinidae family, a lineage tracing back roughly 125 million years to the Cretaceous period. Often labeled a living fossil, this creature possesses a unique anatomy suited for the deep ocean. Its body is flabby and its fins are small, suggesting a sluggish lifestyle, yet it is a highly specialized ambush predator. The shark’s most striking feature is its elongated, blade-like snout, which is covered in ampullae of Lorenzini—sensory organs that detect the faint electric fields generated by nearby prey in the pitch-black depths.

When the shark detects a target, it employs a remarkable feeding strategy. Its jaws are normally held flush against the underside of its head, but they are connected to elastic ligaments that act as a catapult. During a strike, these ligaments release tension, snapping the jaws forward at speeds reaching 3.14 meters per second. Simultaneously, the shark drops its basihyal, a tongue-like structure, to create suction that draws in water and prey. This jaw protrusion is 2.1 to 9.5 times more extensive than that of other sharks, and the lower jaw performs complex, upward-swinging movements to secure the catch.

While once shrouded in mystery, recent observations have clarified the species' biology. Adults typically measure 3 to 4 meters, though a massive specimen caught in 2000 was estimated to be up to 6.2 meters long. In 2023, a pregnant female weighing 800 kilograms was landed in Taiwan, providing rare insight into their reproduction. Despite their fearsome appearance and specialized weaponry, they are categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN. They are rarely encountered by humans, living primarily at depths of 270 to 960 meters, though sightings have occurred as deep as 2,000 meters, proving that this ancient lineage still thrives in the ocean's most inaccessible reaches.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The Ginsu shark was a Cretaceous apex predator that could slice through marine giants.
• The megamouth shark is a mysterious deep-sea giant discovered only in 1976.
• The bullhead shark is an ancient survivor that mastered the art of rocky camouflage.
• The frilled shark: a prehistoric predator with a three-year pregnancy and 300 teeth
• The great hammerhead uses its bizarre head as a weapon to pin down prey
• The golden mole is not a mole, but a master of subterranean sand swimming
• The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a tiny, restless acrobat that builds nests from spiderwebs
• The golden pheasant is a master of disguise that prefers running to flying
• The glass knifefish is a translucent, electric predator lurking in deep river channels.
• The world's largest frog builds its own stone nests to secure its massive offspring.
• Why these tiny rainforest frogs have evolved to show off their beating hearts
• The shovel-tusked giants that once roamed almost every continent on Earth

More in Vertebrates · More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics