Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Some aspects of the biology of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, collected from the Tokyo Submarine Canyon and adjacent waters, Japan

  • FULL PAPER
  • Published:
Ichthyological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A total of 148 specimens of Mitsukurina owstoni were examined for morphology, distribution, stomach contents, and reproductive condition. Sixty-nine males (81.7–208.5 cm in total length, TL) and 56 females (92.8–196.1 cm TL) were collected with bottom gillnets along a steep slope of the Tokyo Submarine Canyon (100–350 m depth) from May 1995 to October 1996. In addition, data were obtained from 23 specimens of M. owstoni collected from Sagami Bay, Suruga Bay, and the Enshu-nada Sea from 1972 to 2001. Japanese catch records already published (from 1898) plus those in the present study were from the Pacific coast of Japan, from Choshi to the Kii Peninsula. The main fishing season for M. owstoni by bottom gillnet fishing in the Tokyo Submarine Canyon was October to April, at depths of 200–245 m. No specimens examined were sexually mature, including the largest male (208.5 cm TL) and female (196.1 cm TL) recorded. Of 110 stomachs from specimens from the Tokyo Submarine Canyon, 32 (29.1%) were empty. The remainder variously included teleost fishes, squids, decapods, isopods, digested food, and human refuse. Teleost fishes (Macrouridae sp. and Stomiidae spp.), an isopod (Cymothoidae), and decapods (Pasiphaea sinensis and Sergia sp.) were the only identifiable prey, the indication being that teleosts (all size ranges) were of primary importance as prey for M. owstoni.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AJ Bass JD D'Aubrey N Kistnasamy (1975) ArticleTitleSharks of the east coast of southern Africa. IV. The families Odontaspididae, Scapanorhynchidae, Isuridae, Cetorhinidae, Alopiidae, Orectolobidae and Rhiniodontidae Invest Rep Oceanogr Res Inst 39 1–102

    Google Scholar 

  • BA Bean (1905) ArticleTitleNotes on an adult goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) of Japan Proc U S Natl Mus 28 815–818

    Google Scholar 

  • HB Bigelow WC Schroeder (1948) Sharks J Tee-Van CM Breder SF Hildebrand AE Parr WC Schroeder (Eds) Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Part I Sears Foundation for Marine Research Yale University, New Haven 59–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadenat J, Blache J (1981) Faune tropicale. XXI. Requins de Méditerranée et d'Atlantique (plus particuliérenebt de la Côte Occidentale d'Afrique). ORSTOM, Paris

  • H Cappetta (1980) ArticleTitleThe selachians from upper Cretaceous of Lebanon I. Sharks Palaeontographica (Abt A) 168 69–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Compagno LJV (2001) Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date, vol 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). FAO species catalogue for fishery purposes, no. 1. Rome, FAO

  • E Cortés (1997) ArticleTitleA critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to elasmobranch fishes Can J Fish Aquat Sci 54 726–738 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfas-54-3-726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W Davison JGJM Van Berkel (1985) ArticleTitleFurther additions to the records of marine fishes from Kaikoura Mauri Ora 12 147–150

    Google Scholar 

  • B Dean (1903) ArticleTitleAdditional specimens of the Japanese shark Mitsukurina Science 17 630–631 Occurrence Handle17789993 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.17.433.630-a

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CAJ Duffy (1997) ArticleTitleFurther records of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni (Lamniformes: Mitsukurinidae), from New Zealand N Z J Zool 24 167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • R Engelhardt (1912) ArticleTitleÜber einige neue selachier-formen Zool Anz 39 643–648

    Google Scholar 

  • WN Eschmeyer (1998) Catalog of fishes California Academy of Sciences San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • HW Fowler (1941) ArticleTitleContributions to the biology of the Philippine Archipelago and adjacent regions Bull U S Natl Mus 13 1–879

    Google Scholar 

  • JAF Garrick LP Schultz (1963) A guide to the kinds of potentially dangerous shark PW Gilbert (Eds) Sharks and survival Heath Boston 3–60

    Google Scholar 

  • S Garman (1913) ArticleTitleThe Plagiosotmia (sharks, skates and rays) Mem Mus Comp Zool Harvard Univ 36 1–528

    Google Scholar 

  • CJM Glover (1976) ArticleTitleThe goblin shark Scapanorhynchus owstoni (Jordan, 1898): confirmation of the first Australian record S Aust Nat 50 69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • L Hussakoff (1909) ArticleTitleA new goblin shark, Scapanorhynchus jordani, from Japan Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 26 257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • DS Jordan (1898) ArticleTitleDescription of a species of fish (Mitsukurina owstoni) from Japan, the type of a distinct family of lamnoid sharks Proc Calif Acad Sci (Ser 3) 1 199–204

    Google Scholar 

  • DS Jordan HW Fowler (1903) ArticleTitleA review of elasmobranchiate fishes of Japan Proc U S Natl Mus 26 593–674

    Google Scholar 

  • DS Jordan CL Hubbs (1925) ArticleTitleRecord of fishes obtained by David Starr Jordan in Japan, 1922 Mem Carnegie Mus 10 93–347

    Google Scholar 

  • DS Jordan JO Snyder (1904) ArticleTitleOn a collection of fishes made by Mr. Alan Owston in the deep waters of Japan Smithson Misc Collect 45 230–240

    Google Scholar 

  • H Kobayashi Y Yamaguchi T Nonoda K Izawa H Ban (1982) ArticleTitleThe sharks caught on the continental shelf and slope in Kumano Nada region along the Pacific coast of Japan Bull Fac Fish Mie Univ 9 101–123

    Google Scholar 

  • T Kubota M Aoki (1971) ArticleTitleGoblin shark and frilled shark collected from Suruga Bay Saishu-to-shiiku 33 191–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Kurata (1967) ArticleTitleCatch record of goblin shark (Scapanorynchus owstoni) Saishu-to-shiiku 29 417

    Google Scholar 

  • PR Last JD Stevens (1994) Sharks and rays of Australia CSIRO Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • H Masai Y Sato M Aoki (1973) ArticleTitleThe brain of Mitsukurina owstoni J Hirnforschung 14 493–500 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSuB28nntFE%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Matsubara (1955) Fish morphology and hierarchy. Part I Ishizaki-shoten Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • PJ Motta CD Wilga (2001) ArticleTitleAdvances in the study of feeding behaviors, mechanisms, and mechanics of sharks Environ Biol Fishes 60 131–156 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007649900712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JR Norman (1966) A draft synopsis of the orders, families and genera of recent fishes and fish-like vertebrates British Museum (Natural History) London

    Google Scholar 

  • T Oyama (1990) ArticleTitleGoblin shark Mar Sci Mus Tokai Univ 20 7

    Google Scholar 

  • GR Parsons GW Ingram SuffixJr R Howard (2002) ArticleTitleFirst record of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, Jordan (family Mitsukurinidae) in the Gulf of Mexico South Nat 1 189–192 Occurrence Handle10.1656/1528-7092(2002)001[0189:FROTGS]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L Pinkas MS Oliphant ILK Iverson (1971) ArticleTitleFood habits of albacore, bluefin tuna, and bonito in California waters Calif Dept Fish Game Fish Bull 152 1–105

    Google Scholar 

  • AS Piotrovskiy VG Prut'ko (1980) ArticleTitleThe occurrence of the goblin shark, Scapanorhynchus owstoni (Chondrichthyes, Scapanorhynchidae), in the Indian Ocean J Ichthyol 20 124–125

    Google Scholar 

  • J Quéro (1972) ArticleTitleCapture de deux Scapanorhynchus owstoni (Jordan, 1898) (Selachii, Scapanorhynchidae) par des chalutiers de la Rochelle Ann Soc Sci Nat Charente Mar 5 168–170

    Google Scholar 

  • H Shimma Y Shimma (1969) ArticleTitleComparative studies on shark liver oils from Suruga Bay Bull Tokai Regul Fish Res Lab 59 101–110

    Google Scholar 

  • G Shinohara K Matsuura (1997) ArticleTitleAnnotated checklist of deep-water fishes from Suruga Bay, Japan Nat Sci Mus Monogr 12 269–318

    Google Scholar 

  • I Shishido (1898) ArticleTitleNew Japanese name of Mitsukurina owstoni J Zool 10 223–226

    Google Scholar 

  • J Signeux (1949) ArticleTitleNotes paleoichthyologiques. I. Observation nouvelles sur le genre Scapanorhynchus et ses relations Bull Mus Nat Hist Nat Paris (Ser 2) 21 633–635

    Google Scholar 

  • VG Springer JAF Garrick (1964) ArticleTitleA survey of vertebral numbers in sharks Proc U S Natl Mus 116 73–96

    Google Scholar 

  • DG Stead (1963) Sharks and rays of Australian seas Angus and Robertson London

    Google Scholar 

  • JD Stevens JR Paxton (1985) ArticleTitleA new record of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni (family Mitsukurinidae), from eastern Australia Proc Linn Soc N S W 108 37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • K Suzuki T Kataoka (1997) Marine fishes of Mie prefecture, Japan Toba Aquarium Toba

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameTaiji Whale Museum and Kushimoto Marine Park Center (1982) ArticleTitleSurvey of the specimens of so-called rare fishes stored in Japanese aquariums J Zoo Aquar 24 10–25

    Google Scholar 

  • JK Ugoretz JA Siegel (1999) ArticleTitleFirst eastern Pacific record of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni (Lamniformes: Mitsukurinidae) Calif Fish Game 85 118–120

    Google Scholar 

  • T Uyeno K Sasaki (1983) Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898 T Uyeno K Matsuura E Fujii (Eds) Fishes trawled off Suriname and French Guiana Japan Marine Fisheries Resource Research Center Tokyo 48

    Google Scholar 

  • T Uyeno K Nakamura S Mikami (1976) ArticleTitleOn the body coloration and an abnormal specimen of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan Bull Kanagawa Pref Mus 9 66–72

    Google Scholar 

  • ML Vaillant (1904) ArticleTitleSur le Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan C R Acad Sci Paris 138 1517–1518

    Google Scholar 

  • EG White (1936) ArticleTitleA classification and phylogeny of the elasmobranch fishes Am Mus Novitat 837 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • F Yanagisawa (1985) ArticleTitleBehavior of the goblin shark, Scapanorynchus owstoni, in the aquarium J Zoo Aquar 27 71–75

    Google Scholar 

  • F Yanagisawa (1991) ArticleTitleNotes on the oral morphology of goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan Nankiseibutsu 33 10–14

    Google Scholar 

  • K Yano M Masuda K Nagai M Kashiwara (1996) List of sharks including dangerous species collected around Aichi K Yano (Eds) Report of anti-shark attack, physiology and behavior of sharks Shark Research Project Team of Aichi Prefecture Hekinan 39–43

    Google Scholar 

  • K Yano K Mochizuki O Tsukada K Suzuki (2003) ArticleTitleFurther description and notes of natural history of the viper dogfish, Trigongnathus kabeyai, from the Kumano-nada Sea and the Ogasawara Islands, Japan (Chondrichthyes: Etmopteridae) Ichthyol Res 50 251–258 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s10228-003-0165-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Masahiro Aizawa

    Present address: Imperial Household Agency, 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Ishigaki Tropical Station, 148-446 Fukai Ota, Ishigaki, Okinawa, 907-0451, Japan

    Kazunari Yano

  2. Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, 955-2 Aoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8682, Japan

    Masaki Miya

  3. Coastal Branch of Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, 123 Yoshio, Katsuura, Chiba, 299-5242, Japan

    Masahiro Aizawa & Tetsuhisa Noichi

Authors
  1. Kazunari Yano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masaki Miya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masahiro Aizawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tetsuhisa Noichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masaki Miya.

About this article

Cite this article

Yano, K., Miya, M., Aizawa, M. et al. Some aspects of the biology of the goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, collected from the Tokyo Submarine Canyon and adjacent waters, Japan. Ichthyol Res 54, 388–398 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-007-0414-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-007-0414-2

Key words

Search

Navigation