Week: 29th April – 5th May 2013
Only a few correct answers to this weeks mystery creature…. it is the GOBLIN SHARK.
The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is another deep sea dweller and is often referred to as a living fossil as its lineage can be traced back 125 million years. It is unique among sharks with its unusual protruding snout and extendable jaw. The colour of these sharks ranges from pinkish grey to a deep pink. Its muscle tone is weak and it is thought to be a poor swimmer. It uses electric field receptors within its snout to detect its food, mainly crustaceans, cephalopods and certain deep sea fish. Goblin sharks typically grow to two to three metres in length, with the females thought to be the larger of the sexes.