A rare goblin shark has been accidentally hauled from the depths of the ocean while carrying six shark pups.
The rarely-seen fish was found off the coast of Nanfangao, Taiwan on 13 June 2023 and it’s believed to have been caught by an Australian trawler boat.
Described as a “living fossil” by the Taiwan Ocean Artistic Museum, the beast weighed a whopping 126-stone and was carrying six babies inside, all with fully formed teeth.
According to the museum, each pup weighed around 7.7 lbs and measured about four-feet in length.
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The specimen is considered the largest ever Goblin shark caught in Taiwanese waters, which the museum called “rare” and “prehistoric.”
The museum added: “Only two Goblin sharks have been caught in Mexico recently.
“This species has translucent skin, a pink body, and evil fangs.
“Also known as ‘devil shark’, it belongs to the prehistoric shark family and is a very rare living fossil teaching material.”
The museum said a restaurant almost bought the shark’s carcass to sell on as food before their representatives stepped in to acquire it.
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They stated: “After fighting for it, the Taiwan Ocean Art Museum bought it.
“It is expected to be exhibited in the Taiwan Ocean Art Museum in the future.”
The museum added that the shark gets its name because its “head is shaped like a goblin”.
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The Australian Museum, based in Darlinghurst in New South Wales, said: “When feeding, the Goblin shark extends its jaws forward faster than any other species of shark.
“The Goblin shark has been caught in scattered localities through the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
“The Goblin shark is not considered dangerous to humans.”
The species feeds on squids, bony fish and crustaceans.
The fearsome-looking beast is usually found near the seabed at depths of around 1,200 metres (3,937 feet).
Although bottom trawling is widely considered a destructive fishing practice that is banned in many parts of the world, it is legal off the coast of Taiwan.
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