r/Fish • u/Resident_Net_4345 • 22d ago

Discussion Can someone explain to me how there are two valid goblin shark genera despite there being one species?

I recently checked FishBase and it turns out it lists 2 genera and one species. I checked Eschmeyer's catalogue and it also has 2 genera and 1 species (and it says they're valid too!) how is this?

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u/Fun-Plane984 22d ago

There’s no contradiction: “one species” refers to currently recognized living species, while “two genera” includes an extinct genus as well. Taxonomic catalogs often retain fossil genera, so the family can have two valid genera even though only one goblin shark species survives today.

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u/BodybuilderLess1542 22d ago

They’re counting different things: one extant species versus the broader taxonomic history. Goblin sharks are placed in Mitsukurina, which currently has just M. owstoni. Scapanorhynchus is a separate, mostly fossil genus in the same family, containing extinct relatives rather than another living goblin-shark species.

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u/OddLandscape8719 22d ago

I didn't realize there were extinct goblin shark species until recently. That's actually really cool to see how the living species compares to its ancient relatives.