On January 25, 2007, when our Tokyo Sea Life Park (Kasai Rinkai Suizokuen)''s staff took a boat with local fishermen, we caught a male goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni), 1.3m long, in the shallows (160 meters deep) of outer Tokyo Bay. We brought back the shark, which was fortunately not much damaged, and displayed it in a ''Deep Sea'' tank together with alfonsinos (Beryx splendens), and spiny dog fish (Squalus japonicus), but it died on January 27.

At first, the shark seemed nervous, swimming in the tank with one side upwards. But after a while, it began to swim normally and slowly, avoiding collision with tank walls and the acrylic window.

Goblin sharks grow up to 3.5 meters long and normally live at depths of 1,200 meters. Specimens are extremely rare and little is known about their lives. They are called ''living fossils,'' because they resemble pre-historic sharks.

Their gastric contents and the form of head indicate they eat squids, octopuses, shrimps and crabs near the seafloor. When eating foods, their jaws protrude wildly forward from the their mouth.

Tokyo Sea Life Park had caught a goblin shark just once. We were able to bring it back, but died in several days.

Goblin shark videos on January 25, 2007 at Tokyo Sea Life Park
- Goblin shark (QuickTime)
- Goblin shark (Windows Media Player)

Copyright 2007, Tokyo Zoological Park Society
(If you want to use our photos, videos, or texts, contact us.)