ZAP’S FACTS!
DEEP SEA

The goblin shark's jaws shoot out of its head when it eats.

Goblin sharks have jaws that can extend up to 3 inches in a flash, making them one of the ocean's most surprising predators.

2 min read
A vibrant goblin shark with exaggerated jaws and sharp teeth bursts from the ocean, set against a bright yellow background.
THE FULL STORY

The goblin shark looks like a deep-sea horror movie come to life. It has pale pinkish skin, a long pointy snout, beady eyes, and oddly small teeth that you can sometimes glimpse inside its closed mouth. Then it opens that mouth - and the rules of normal-looking fish completely break.

When prey gets within range, the goblin shark’s whole jaw apparatus shoots forward out of its head, extending up to 3 inches beyond the snout. The teeth - suddenly large and visible - clamp shut on the prey, and then the whole jaw pulls back into the face. It happens in less than a second.

Scientists call it the most extreme example of “slingshot feeding” in any fish. The shark is also a living fossil: its family has been around for about 125 million years, barely changing, drifting through the deep ocean shadows since the days of the dinosaurs.

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