See it: Rare deep-sea goblin sharks filmed in their natural habitat for the first time

Scientists have recorded the first live observations of goblin sharks (*Mitsukurina owstoni*) in their natural environment, according to research published in the *Journal of Fish Biology*. A team led by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa documented two encounters: one in 2019 near an unnamed seamount northwest of Jarvis Island and another in 2024 on the slope of the Tonga Trench. The footage, captured during deep-sea expeditions, reveals the sharks thriving at depths nearly 700 meters deeper than previously recorded, significantly broadening their known range. Aaron Judah, lead author and doctoral candidate at the Deep-Sea Fish Ecology Lab, confirmed the 2019 footage after reviewing archived footage from a livestreamed dive. The 2024 observation used baited deep-sea cameras to lure the shark, providing the first evidence of goblin sharks alive in their natural habitat without prior disturbance. Previous encounters involved sharks hooked by fishing lines or brought to the surface, where they often died shortly afterward. Goblin sharks, considered living fossils, represent a lineage dating back nearly 125 million years. Their distinctive features, including a blade-like nose, have earned them the nickname of the ocean’s ugliest sharks. The new findings extend their documented depth range from around 300 meters to over 1,000 meters, challenging prior assumptions about their habitat. The discoveries also hold environmental significance, adding goblin sharks to regional marine management plans and national biodiversity records. Judah emphasized the importance of continued deep-sea research, highlighting how much remains unknown about the ocean’s vast and unexplored depths. The footage provides rare insights into the behavior and ecology of goblin sharks, offering a glimpse into one of the planet’s most enigmatic deep-sea predators.