Shortfin mako shark

Isurus oxyrinchus · The shortfin mako shark is a cosmopolitan species that lives in offshore temperate and tropical seas worldwide.

Also called Shortfin mako, Blue pointer, Bonito shark, Sharp-nose mackerel shark.

Shortfin mako shark
Photo: 出羽雀台, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shortfin mako shark
Photo: 出羽雀台, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shortfin mako shark
Photo: Mark Conlin, SWFSC Large Pelagics Program, Public domain

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassChondrichthyes
OrderLamniformes
FamilyLamnidae
GenusIsurus
SpeciesIsurus oxyrinchus

Where it lives

Open temperate and tropical oceans worldwide.

Fun facts

  • Shortfin makos are the fastest sharks known, capable of bursting to speeds of 74 km/h (46 mph).
  • A shortfin mako holds the record for the strongest shark bite ever measured, about 3,000 lbs (13,000 newtons) of force.
  • A special heat-exchange circulatory system lets a shortfin mako stay 4-5.5°C warmer than the surrounding water.
  • One tagged female shortfin mako traveled over 2,776 km (1,725 mi) from California to the central Pacific.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).