Mako Sharks Information

The Mako Shark--named for the Maori word of mako meaning shark--is a beautiful and aggressive species highly sought after by recreational fisherman. It was famously mentioned in the iconic Ernest Hemingway novel, "The Old Man and the Sea." This species is common and found in most of the world's oceans. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, it is the most popular species of shark for humans to eat.

  1. Types

    • Mako sharks are either long-finned or short-finned. The long-finned version is slim and its broad pectoral fins make it a slow swimmer that prefers deep water. The short-finned Mako is a quick swimmer and lives in shallow water closer to the surface. That's why Marine biologists have much more information about the habits of the short-finned Mako.

    Features

    • The most defining feature of the Mako shark is its sharp pointed nose (its species name, Oxyrinchus, means sharp nose in Greek). The species also has large bulbous black eyes. The coloration of both types of Mako is a metallic shade of blue on the back and white on the belly and underside of the snout. Short-finned Makos average anywhere from 5 to 8 feet in length, but some have reached 12 feet long. Both types usually weigh about 1,000 lbs.

    Agility

    • The short-finned Mako is the world's fastest shark, capable of attaining speeds of up to 32 km per hour. The short-finned Mako can also jump heights of up to twice its body length.

    Geography

    • The Florida Museum of Natural History writes that the Mako is a widely distributed species found off the coasts of North America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia and Japan. The short-finned version in particular likes tropical and temperate waters.

    Fishing

    • Many salt-water fisherman consider sharks to be the ultimate challenge because they are such a large and powerful adversary. The short-finned Mako is the more frequently pursued of the two sub-species. The Anglers Addiction website warns that Mako fishing is not for inexperienced fisherman. Its bite is very dangerous and will still bite and thrash once it is on board unless it has been thoroughly exhausted.

    Diet and Threats

    • The Mako shark typically consumes bony fish such as tuna, mackerel or cod and is known to attack and kill smaller shark species like the blue or hammerhead shark. While it is aggressive, it doesn't attack humans that often. As of 2009, the International Shark Attack File had just 57 known cases in history of a Mako attacking a human anywhere in the world. On the other hand, humans pose the greatest threat to the shark due to over hunting. It was listed as "Near Threatened" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in 2009.