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Some good resources to learn more: Introduction; Vision in Elasmobranchs (Robert E. Hueter, 1990) Scene through the eyes of an apex predator; a comparative analysis of the shark visual system (Shaun P. Collin, 2018)

Photos of elasmobranch eyes taken by yours truly at Shedd Aquarium! I am (obviously) not a photographer, these were taken by iPhone Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus Bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma)

The horizontal pupils of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) likely sacrifice sharpness with a wide field of view to quickly spot any potential prey animals near the surface of the water. Basking sharks also have horizontal pupils.

Round pupils (like those in the shortspine spurdog (Squalus mitukurii) at the top) are often found in deep-water species. Slit vertical pupils are common in species like the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) that experience bright and dim light.

Thanks!

www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/...

Pea-Sized Wonder: Shedd Aquarium Becomes First Known Aquarium to Raise Warty Frogfish Baby | Shedd AquariumThe bumpy, odd-looking animal has helped advance knowledge of larval fish developmentwww.sheddaquarium.org

Thanks!

This individual is 1 of 2 rescues at Shedd Aquarium. Their mother was caught in a fishing net off the coast of Taiwan in a non-protected area. She was pregnant, & her pups went to different accredited institutions that could care for them www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/...

Unique and Critically Endangered Bowmouth Guitarfish Pups Find Refuge at Shedd Aquarium | Shedd AquariumShedd Aquarium’s Wild Reef Exhibit is now home to three young critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish pups (Rhina ancylostoma).www.sheddaquarium.org

They have an insane mouth/dentition, their jaws almost look wavy or "W"-shaped. They're still not super well-known, but have been described as "one of the world’s most vulnerable and evolutionarily distinct jawed vertebrates on the planet" due to lack of close relatives

Yep, here are the 2 others. I haven't seen them either until this book! The 2nd is obviously another take on the same concept/composition

Another version of the same concept: These have a very storybook feel to them, not like his more grounded/detailed Ice Age scenes. The lack of underwater photography to reference, &/or inability to do "plein air" studies underwater, probably played a role in the overall look

The overall morphology (large crescent-shaped caudal fin, tall 1st dorsal fin, short/blunt face) & coloration (stark countershading with dark greyish color above & pale/white below) of Megalodon depicted here is still very much within the realm of plausibility.

Great point, thanks for pointing that out!

Photo by Joel Sartore for comparison. I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max

Thank you for the answer! That's very interesting

Another tell is the curvature/outline of the body (mainly the trunk/midsection) looks a bit stiff/rectangular. Real, living goblin sharks have interesting slopes and curves that give their form a lot of character

Lastly, while it's not AI I want to address this because it's 1 of the most widespread images related to goblin sharks. This is, I'm fairly certain, a photo of a dead/preserved specimen edited to look like it's swimming/alive. It doesn't quite fit the angle, lighting doesn't match, etc.

Another tell: while the distinctive snout of goblin sharks can appear narrow/pointed/sword-like in profile, this is not the case! It's much rounder than you'd think, almost plate or spoon-like. First is AI that doesn't know this, rest are genuine article

Documentation of a living goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is still very rare and exciting! And I hate that like everything it's getting poisoned by fucking AI slop. Enjoy some genuine articles:

Because of how bizarre and "alien" the goblin shark seems, it's a particular target of engagement farming. Your best defense is learning about goblin sharks from reputable sources. This great illustration of a goblin shark by Marc Dando shows how they should typically look