AY Honors/Species Account/Isurus oxyrinchus

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus "sharp nose") large shark of the Lamnidae family. Along with the closely related longfin mako, Isurus paucus, it is commonly called just mako shark.

Anatomy and appearance

With a full-grown length of 9 - 13 ft (2.75 - 4 m) it has been reported to weigh up to 1,750 pounds (800 kg) and has a bluish back and white underside. Although the sexes grow at about the same rate, females are thought to have a longer life span, and grow larger and weigh more than the males. Shortfin makos are renowned for their speed and their ability to leap out of the water. Mako sharks have the most perfect hydrodynamic shape of all sharks, combined with the lamnidae's typical high aerobic muscle mass which reflects in the spectacular speed and agility of the two sharks.

Naming

The name 'mako' comes from the Māori language for blue lightning, reflecting its colour and speed.

Distribution

The shortfin mako is found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide.

Behavior

The shortfin mako's speed has been recorded at over 22 miles (35 kilometres) per hour. Shortfin makos can jump up to 20 feet in the air.

This high leaping fish is sought as game worldwide. Some of the largest makos in the world can be found in New England waters. The closely related longfin mako shark, Isurus paucus, is found in the Gulf Stream or warmer offshore waters.

Reproduction

The shortfin mako shark is a yolk-sac ovoviviparous shark, meaning it gives birth to live young who feed from a sac full of yolk in the womb. The gestation period for a mako shark is 15 - 18 months. Shortfin mako embryos in the female's body actually consume each other to get nutrients. This is called intrauterine cannibalism.

References

• Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
• Template:ITIS
• Template:FishBase species

External links

• Template:Marinebio
• "Lamniformes." Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia E-Book. (requires license to view)