Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)

Scientific name: Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810

Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)

The Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a marine fish of the family Lamnidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 16°C (61°F).

Shortfin mako care at a glance

Temperature
16°C (61°F)

Biology

Oceanic, but sometimes found close inshore. Usually in surface waters, down to about 150 m. Coastal, epipelagic at 1->500 m. Isotope analysis has shown that shortfin mako is the highest level fish predator in oceanic waters off eastern Australia. Adults feed on bony fishes, other sharks, cephalopods; larger individuals may feed on larger prey such as billfish and small cetaceans. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. With 4-16 young of about 60-70 cm long. Gestation period lasts 15-18 months, spawning cycle is every 3 years. Some authors have erroneously assumed that two age rings are deposited per year by this species, thus underesti

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Isurus oxyrinchus
Family
Lamnidae (Mackerel sharks or white shark)
Order
Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
400
Common length
270
Depth range
0–740 m (0–2428 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 740 m, usually 100 - 150 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil and Argentina, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, north to Primorskiy Kray, south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: south of Aleutian Islands and from southern California, USA to Chile.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU)(A2abd+3bd+4abd)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (rm=0.051; K=0.2; tmax=28; tm=20; Fec=4)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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