ZooWeird 32

A doggerel series about odd or little-known animals.

The goblin shark is a hideous, strange-looking shark occurring in all three major oceans. First discovered in the waters of Japan more than a hundred years ago, it still remains a poorly understood species with many mysteries surrounding its existence. It is the last surviving member of the family Mitsukurinidae, a lineage some 125 million years old. The species has been described as a “living fossil,” thanks to its prehistoric appearance and its ancient lineage. (All animal info from http://www.strangeanimals.info/2011/01/goblin-shark.html#ixzz4UFVsgMcP)

The goblin shark is “hideous”—

So we are bluntly often told.

His looks, indeed, do frighten us—

Except, of course, the brave, the bold.

But he’s not hideous at all—

As handsome as we’ve ever seen.

He’s just dressed up—a costume ball—

That’s held, down deep, on Halloween.