25 november, 2011

The Goblin shark


Nice to meet you mr Goblin shark!

The goblin shark is a deep-sea shark, the sole living species in the family Mitsukurinidae. It has a long, trowel-shaped, beak-like rostrum or snout, much longer than other sharks' snouts. Some other distinguishing characteristics of the shark are the color of its body, which is mostly pink, and its long, protrusible jaws. 
Mitsukurina owstoni is found in the deep ocean, far below where the sun's light can reach at depths greater than 200 m. They can be found throughout the world, from Australia in the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico in the Atlantic Ocean. They are best known from the waters around Japan, where the species was first discovered.
Goblin sharks feed on a variety of organisms that live in deep waters. Among some of their known prey are deep-sea squidcrabs and deep-sea fish. Very little is known about the species' life history and reproductive habits, as encounters with them have been relatively rare. 
Preserved heads of two goblin sharks.
(Note: This species is not extinct!)

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