Goblin shark seen alive in natural deep-sea habitat for the first time
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Marine biologist Alan Jamieson and colleagues captured the first-ever live footage of the elusive goblin shark in its deep-sea habitat using remote baited cameras in the Pacific Ocean's Tonga Trench.
- The study, published in the Journal of Fish Biology, details two sightings: one in 2019 near Jarvis Island and Palmyra Atoll, and a deeper 2024 observation near the Tonga Trench, extending the known depth range of the species by 108 meters.
- These discoveries significantly expanded the known geographic range and depth habitat of the goblin shark, a rare "living fossil" species dating back 125 million years.
- Researchers emphasize the importance of continued deep-sea exploration to uncover biodiversity and inform regional marine management, as the goblin shark can now be included in national biodiversity lists.