Shortfin mako shark
The shortfin mako shark is recognized as one of the fastest sharks and fish, capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour (74 kilometers per hour). Known for its remarkable leaping ability, the shortfin mako is a popular target among sport fishermen due to its strength and agility. Adult shortfin makos typically weigh between 50 to 200 pounds (22 to 90 kilograms), with some individuals reaching as much as 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) and measuring up to 9.5 feet (290 centimeters) long. These sharks are characterized by their elongated bodies, sharp, curved teeth, and a distinctive cobalt blue back with a white underside. They inhabit tropical and warm temperate seas, preferring water temperatures above 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) but can survive in cooler waters. A notable predator, the shortfin mako primarily feeds on squid, dolphins, sea turtles, and large fish, and is known to aggressively hunt swordfish. Reproduction involves internal fertilization, with females giving birth to live young after a gestation period of 15 to 18 months. Currently, the shortfin mako is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect this extraordinary species, which has a lifespan of up to 32 years.
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Shortfin mako shark
The shortfin mako is one of the fastest sharks and one of the fastest fish alive. It has been known to leap from the water and into a boat.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Genus: Isurus
Species: Oxyrinchus
The shortfin mako is one of the fastest sharks, reaching up to 45 miles (74 kilometers) per hour. It has been known to leap from the water and into a boat. For many years, they were a popular game fish because their speed and strength were exciting for fishermen.
The average weight of a full-grown shortfin mako is 50 to 200 pounds (22 to 90 kilograms), known also to reach some 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). Males average 6 1/2 to 7 feet (200 to 215 centimeters) long while females reach 9 to 9 1/2 feet (275 to 290 centimeters) long. The record for the largest shortfin mako was set in 1990 with a 1,115-pound (505-kilogram) fish. This shark is identified by its long, slender, curved, teeth which protrude from its mouth. The skin on its back is deep, cobalt blue with snow white present below. The shortfin mako's tail is symmetrical, meaning the top section of the tail, called a lobe, is roughly the same length as the bottom section.
The shortfin mako inhabits all tropical and warm temperate seas. It is seen along the surface and at moderate depths. It prefers a water temperature of at least 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), but some can tolerate temperatures as low as 57 degrees Fahrenheit (about 13 degrees Celsius). The Mako migrates to cooler waters as temperatures rise in the midsummer.
The diet of the shortfin mako is vast, but it mostly eats squid, dolphins, sea turtles, and large fish. A ferocious hunter with razor-sharp teeth and a powerful bite, the shortfin mako can freely choose its victims. This shark is a natural enemy to the swordfish. One reportedly swam beneath a swordfish, and in one swift bite removed the fish's tail, rendering it helpless.
As with all sharks, the breeding of sharks involves internal fertilization. The male uses an organ called a clasper to deposit the sperm into the female. After a gestation period of 15 to 18 months, the female gives birth to live young which immediately fend for themselves. They reach maturity around 9 to 11 years after birth.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists the shortfin mako as endangered.
The shortfin mako shark has a lifespan of 29 to 32 years.
Bibliography
"Shortfin Mako." Florida Museum of Natural History, www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/isurus-oxyrinchus. Accessed 1 May 2024.
"Shortfin Mako Shark." Ocean Conservancy, oceanconservancy.org/wildlife-factsheet/shortfin-mako-shark. Accessed 1 May 2024.