Pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus) fish species and Pelagic thresher information

Scientific Name
Alopias pelagicus

Common Name
Pelagic thresher

Biology
Primarily an oceanic species but sometimes close inshore (Ref. 247, 5578, 58302); neritic to oceanic, 0-152 m (Ref. 11230). Epipelagic (Ref. 58302). Mesopelagic in the tropics; may enter atoll lagoons (Ref. 37816). Stuns its prey with its tail, presumably feeding on small fishes and cephalopods (Ref. 6871). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 43278, 50449). Sometimes caught by ski-boat anglers (Ref. 5578). Utilized for human consumption, liver oil for vitamin extraction, hides for leather, and fins for shark-fin soup (Ref. 13570). A very common catch in the tuna and shark longline, and tuna drift net fisheries (Ref.58048). Maximum and common size of males estimated from discussion in Ref. 247. Adult females may reach at least 330 cm TL (Ref. 47613).

Classification

Classified By

Nakamura, 1935

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Mackerel sharks (Lamniformes)

Family

Thresher sharks (Alopiidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumglobal. Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Circumglobal. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Maldives (Ref. 30829), Somalia, South Africa, Western Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and the Galapagos. Reliable records lacking partly due to its confusion with Alopias vulpinus.

Range

40°N - 32°S, 34°E - 83°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

300 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 37816), usually 0 - 150 m (Ref. 55167)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.66 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

347 cm

Common Length

276 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (73 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2; tm=7-9; tmax = 29)

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 13570)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2d+4d)

Pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus) fish species and information / pictures of Pelagic thresher - Alopias pelagicus

Pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population