Mackerel sharks
Shortfin mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
A streamlined open-ocean shark built for speed, with a pointed snout and powerful crescent tail.
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Every figure uses the same scale. The shark image is shown at the species’ published maximum length; individual animals vary.
Temperate and tropical open-ocean water, from the surface to substantial depths.
Temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, including Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific offshore waters.
Open ocean from the surface into deep water
Fast-swimming fish including tuna and swordfish, plus squid and smaller sharks.
Metallic-blue back, white underside, pointed snout, short pectoral fins, and a crescent-shaped tail.
Embryos develop inside the mother and consume unfertilized eggs before live birth.
Species facts
Did you know?
It is widely considered the fastest shark, capable of extremely rapid bursts.
Its heat-conserving circulation supports powerful swimming in cooler water.