Elf Shark.
This fish stands out for its unique morphology among the Mitsukurinidae family. Known for the prolongation that warns about its mouth, the goblin shark moves one of its jaws forward when it opens its mouth.
It calls the attention of this shark the fact that it is the only surviving species of his family, because his close cousins Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon are already extinct. In addition, the reddish color of his body and the gray back make him very attractive.
1898 is the year in which this specimen was made known and it was precisely the fisherman who caught him who gave him the name of tenguzame meaning elfin shark. The fish caught off the coast of Yokohama was a meter and a half long.
It is now possible to find specimens of this species in the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, in the seas from Japan to Australia and in the western Indian Ocean.
The goblin shark can reach up to six meters long and weigh around 700 kg; Its body is compressed laterally and makes it look elongated. Unlike others of its kind, it has a flattened and long snout, from which a jaw protrudes, capable of moving forward when opening its mouth.
This fish has between 35 and 53 rows of teeth in its upper jaw and 31 to 62 rows of teeth in the lower jaw, whose thickness and size vary according to its arrangement inside the mouth. In this way, those located in the center have larger dimensions than those located in the back.
The dorsal and pectoral fins of this shark have a rounded shape while being small with respect to the anal and pelvic fins.
The skin of this animal is white with pink details in the area of the trunk and blue flashes in the fins. However, out of the water the goblin shark is reddish or brown. The unique reddish or pinkish color of this animal's skin is related to the fact that its blood vessels are close to the skin.
It is considered that these sharks prefer to live on platforms, that is, in waters of a depth of between 1,300 and 1,370 meters.
#Reproduction: There is little known about the reproductive habits of the goblin shark and that research on this specimen is scarce. However, it is thought to be an ovoviviparous and to have the habit of migrating to carry out the mating and spawning process. Adult females have been found off the coast of Japan, especially during the spring.
#Threats: The main threat of the goblin sharks is due to the strangeness of his jaw. This causes some people to fish for sale to collectors. However, this animal is considered, according to its state of preservation, as a species with "Minor Concern".
Generally, trapped elf shark specimens are the result of a chance on the coasts of Japan, that is, they are not fish captured with any intention.
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