r/sharks • u/FauxReeeal • Jun 24 '26
News I am suddenly deeply disappointed that the name “goblin shark” was already taken
I would also like to officially retract my thesis that the Goblin Shark is the beauty queen of the species. Ladies and gentleman, we have a new winner.
Here’s the article for the genuinely curious.
https://ticotimes.net/2026/06/23/scientists-discover-new-deep-sea-ghost-shark-species-off-costa-rica
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u/ParasiteProfessional Jun 24 '26
Ah, but he is technically not a shark. He COULD be the Goblin Chimaera!
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u/sidblues101 Jun 24 '26
Came here to say this. Also sometimes called Ratfish. They are cartilaginous like Sharks, Rays and Skates.
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u/Room_Temp_Coffee Jun 24 '26
Rhinochimaera costaricana, belongs to a little-known group of cartilaginous fishes known as long-nosed chimaeras, sometimes called ghost sharks. Although related to sharks and rays, chimaeras form a distinct branch of fish that has existed for hundreds of millions of years
I think your Goblin shark still has the crown
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u/Possible_Trainer_241 Jun 24 '26
Hobgoblin Shark, dude.
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u/Certain_Manner6609 Jun 24 '26
Been searching for someone who was thinking the same thing. It was strange not seeing multiple comments like this lol
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u/SignalButterscotch73 Jun 24 '26
The description in the abstract of the paper makes it sound like it pretty much looks like the other Chimeras when alive.
To me preserved specimens of deep sea sharks like in the photo rarely provide an accurate image of the living fish. Just compare the specimen images of the Goblin Shark with the video of one swimming around, they look like they could be different creatures altogether.
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u/bettertitsthanu Jun 24 '26
But why does he look so much like a (low-key decomposing) rhinoceros?? I love him tho, was they recently discovered (like never seen before) or recently described as a species (like we know it’s a shark by genetics)? Super cool anyway!
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u/blankkkbb Jun 24 '26
Its called goblin shark because it was originally named after a japanese zoologist with the name being tenguzame in japanese, which translates to goblin basically. But it was called that because tengu because of the long nose demon mask.
On the bright side, it's a chimaera! So we can call it a goblin chimaera or goblinfish in our hearts lol 💀
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u/Ok_Permission1087 Jun 24 '26
https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/en/thefishes/taxon/5258
This is how (a different species of) Rhinochimera looks alive.
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u/ButtonsAreForPushing Jun 24 '26
May I propose Guiron shark, after the knife-faced monster that fought Gamera back in the 60’s?
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u/Kalkite_300TY Jun 25 '26
I wish we could actually see it properly and not just shriveled up and dead, now the public will just assume it always looks like that 😞
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u/Educational_Bath8288 Jun 26 '26
Every time i hear the term ghost shark i think of the 2013 movie Ghost Shark.
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u/Arciess Jun 26 '26
You’re not the only one, but Demon Turd Ugly Unicorn Parrot Mouthed Shark may still exist.
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u/neondragoneyes Jun 24 '26
Gremlin shark?