Dedication In memory of my brother Kenneth J Ridley 1957 2016 who got me out into the wild world in the first place And always for Thomas K R
They’re prowling around the planet right now prehistoric beasts whose ancestors survived the catastrophes that wiped out the dinosaurs Don’t look now but this one might be lurking in your backyard Who are these bizarre creatures What can they tell us about our distant past and even about the future
GOBLIN SHARK A Creature from the Deep A prehistoric beast prowls the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan lurking in the inky gloom 800 feet 250 meters beneath the surface Few people have ever seen this bizarre creature alive Ten feet 3 meters long with a knife-like snout Floppy jaws bristling with razor-sharp teeth Rubbery skin that can be as pink as bubble gum Black glassy eyes No wonder the Japanese fishermen who accidentally caught one in 1898 named it tenguzame goblin shark 4
Sensors on the underside of the goblin shark’s snout help it detect prey in the dark ocean depths These spooky sharks have haunted the seas for 125 million years They are the last living species in an ancient group of sharks Their relatives have all gone extinct But goblin sharks are a young species compared with other extreme survivors creatures that are even more ancient and strange EXTREME SURVIVAL SECRETS The goblin shark doesn’t waste energy chasing prey in its deep sea home where food is scarce Instead it lies in wait until prey comes near then shoots its extend able jaws like a slingshot snapping them forward and back in an eye-blink This creates a vacuum that sucks squid fish and other prey into its mouth Needle-like teeth prevent the victim from escaping and the shark swallows its meal whole Gulp
