Blue Shark

Prionace glauca

Phylum

Chordata

 Blue Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Carcharhiniformes

Family

Carcharhinidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names :

Blue shark, Blue whaler, Great blue shark, Blue-dog shark.
Diet : Small to large fish, squid and whale carcasses.
Reproduction : Viviparous : Females give birth to up to 135 live young per litter. One of the most prolific breeders, females can store sperm for up to a year before fertilization, the young are then born 9 to 12 months later.
Size : Maximum 3.8 metres, unverified reports of Blue sharks over 6 metres are unlikely  Average female 2.75 metres Average male 2.45 metres.

 

Distribution of Blue Shark Distribution : Worldwide in temperate, tropical and sub-tropical waters. The  most cosmopolitan of all sharks. It tends to prefer water temperatures of 10°-20° centigrade and so therefore is usually  found at depths of up to 200 metres in tropics. Makes long migratory trips in Atlantic, following the Gulf stream to Europe, down to Africa and then across to the Caribbean.

 

Danger to man : Few attacks on swimmers due to it's open ocean location, but is considered very dangerous due to it's size and speed. Undoubtedly caused many deaths of airplane and boat disaster victims.
Economic Importance : Fished heavily for commercial reasons, where its skin, fins, flesh and liver are used. In danger of being over-fished in many areas. Also an IGFA gamefish. Causes havoc with the nets and catches of trawlers fishing for mackerel, sardines etc.
Other Comments : The females produce skin at least three times as thick as the males to protect them from 'courtship bites' during breeding.