Researchers have captured the first live footage of goblin sharks (Mitsukurina owstoni) in their natural deep-sea habitat, significantly expanding the species' known range and depth.

The historic observations, led by a University of Hawaii at Manoa team, document two healthy goblin sharks observed near Jarvis Island and the Tonga Trench, which are nearly 700 meters deeper than previously recorded.

These findings, published in the Journal of Fish Biology, reveal that the 125-million-year-old 'living fossil' still inhabits areas of the Central Pacific, including regions previously unknown to science.

The discoveries challenge prior assumptions about the species' geographic distribution and highlight the importance of natural history research in the deep ocean.The footage was obtained through archived expeditions and modern deep-sea exploration, offering unprecedented insights into this elusive predator.The findings could influence regional marine conservation efforts by incorporating the goblin shark into biodiversity management strategies.This breakthrough underscores the value of long-term scientific exploration in uncovering mysteries of the deep sea.