Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Species Account/Isurus oxyrinchus"

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Template:Taxobox Template:Sharksportal The shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus, ("sharp nose") is a 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

File:Mako shark overview.jpg
A shortfin mako shark.
A close-up of a shortfin mako shark's head.

With a full-grown length of 2.75 – 4 m (9 – 13 ft) it has been reported to weigh up to 800 kg (1,750 lb) 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. In fact, there are cases that when an angry mako will jump out of the water and into the boat after it has been caught on the hook. Mako sharks have a better hydrodynamic shape than all other sharks, and this, combined with the lamnidae's typical high aerobic muscle mass, reflects in the spectacular speed and agility of both the longfin and shortfin makosTemplate:Fact.

Naming

The name "mako" comes from the Māori language, but the etymology is unclear.& A typical gloss given for "mako" is "large blue shark". The term entered the English language in 1727. It can also mean "man-eater". &

Distribution

The shortfin mako is found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide. The closely related longfin mako shark, Isurus paucus, is found in the Gulf Stream or warmer offshore waters.

Behavior

The shortfin mako's speed has been recorded at 50 km/h (31 mph) and there are reports that it can achieve bursts of up to 74 km/h (46 mph).& Shortfin makos can jump up to 9 m (28 ft) in the airTemplate:Fact. Due to its speed and agility, this high-leaping fish is sought as game worldwide. This shark is highly migratory. They are also one of four warm-blooded sharks which helps them in their speed.

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 to 18 months. Shortfin mako embryos in the female's body consume each other to get nutrients. This is called intrauterine cannibalism.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Maori language - a glossary of useful words from the language of the Maori New Zealand". http://www.maori.info/maori_language.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  2. ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mako. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  3. ↑ R. Aidan Martin. "Biology of the Shortfin Mako". ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/i_oxyrinchus.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-12.

References

External links

de:Kurzflossen-Mako es:Isurus oxyrinchus fr:Requin mako ko:청상아리 it:Isurus oxyrinchus nl:Kortvinmakreelhaai ja:アオザメ no:Makrellhai pt:Tubarão-mako sk:Mako rýchly fi:Makohai sv:Makohaj vi:Cá mập mako vây ngắn zh:鼠鲨科

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