Fish
Longfin Mako
Isurus paucusAlso known as Longfin Mako Shark
Longfin makos inhabit the open ocean's twilight zone, drifting beneath the sunlit surface where their extraordinarily elongated pectoral fins provide hydrodynamic lift at slower cruising speeds. Unlike their explosive surface-hunting relatives, these sharks cruise moderately deep waters to stalk cephalopods and schooling teleosts in dimly lit mesopelagic depths. Developing embryos practice oophagy within the mother, feeding directly on unfertilized eggs produced throughout gestation before giving birth to small litters.
PelagicPredatorDeep Sea
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySquid, Mackerel, Herring
Predators
- Killer Whale
- Great White Shark
ThreatsBycatch in commercial pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries
HabitatsPelagic and mesopelagic open ocean waters
Life span20–30 years
Classification
- FamilyLamnidae
- SpeciesIsurus paucus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Large predatory shark capable of serious bites; maintain safe distance and never attempt handling if hooked.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with large, slender teeth capable of causing severe lacerations and blood loss.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for broad pectoral fins longer than the head, slender build, and dark dusky color beneath the snout.
- What to do
- Never drag a live shark onto a vessel deck, and remain alert while diving in deep pelagic zones.
- What to notice
- Identified by exceptionally long pectoral fins with rounded tips and dark undersides of the snout.
- Support conservation
- Cut lines promptly to release hooked sharks and report incidental offshore sightings to fisheries biologists.
Responsible observation
- Pelagic diving: Encountered very rarely in open water; stay calm and avoid making erratic movements.
- Fishery release: If accidentally caught on fishing gear, use long-handled release tools outside the boat.
Competitor (c) biodiversitygr, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by biodiversitygr · cc-by
Competitor (c) Sylvain Eichhorn, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) jidanchaomian, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Same Family "Great White Shark" by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Same Family (c) Julien Savoie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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