The Pocket Shark: Glowing Itty Bitty Boys!

The ocean is still full of secrets, and one of its strangest, smallest mysteries is the pocket shark. A rare, deep sea creature barely longer than a pencil. But don’t let its size fool you. This little shark may be elusive, but it plays a quiet, crucial role in the health of our ocean.

Named for the glowing, bioluminescence producing “pockets” behind its fins, the pocket shark is believed to use bioluminescence to distract predators, lure prey, or communicate in the total darkness of the deep sea. Only two specimens have ever been found, one near Chile in 1979 and one in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, making it one of the rarest creatures ever documented.

So, what does a tiny deep sea shark have to do with ocean health?

Quite a bit, actually.

While the pocket shark may not live on coral reefs or in shallow waters, it’s part of a much larger food web. Deep sea species help regulate fish populations, recycle nutrients, and support the balance that keeps everything, even coral reefs, in check. Many reef species migrate vertically or feed on prey that begins life in deeper waters. If the deep sea breaks down, the ripple effect reaches the surface.

But here’s the bigger picture: the pocket shark is proof of how much we still don’t know. If we can lose track of a glowing shark, what else are we missing? Every unknown species reminds us how fragile and interconnected the ocean truly is, and how urgently we need to protect it.

At Immoral Coral, we’re not just inspired by the strange and the rare — we stand for it. Our oceans are filled with creatures we haven’t even discovered yet, and every piece of plastic, every warming current, every careless act pushes them further into the dark.

Wear something that speaks for them.

When you wear Immoral Coral, you support awareness, conservation, and a deeper respect for life beneath the surface, even the creatures we may never fully understand.

Small shark. Soulful statement. Shop smart. Join the movement.