Thresher Shark

Alopias vulpinus

Phylum

Chordata

 Thresher Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Lamniformes

Family

Alopiidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names :

Thresher shark, Fox shark, Whiptail shark, Thintail thresher.
Diet : Small schooling fish i.e. mackerel, garfish, bluefish etc. and sometimes squid.
Reproduction : Ovoviviparous : Females mature at approximately 3 metres giving birth to up to 6 live pups, each measuring between 1.3 - 1.6 metres. Another species where the young are cannibalistic in the womb.
Size : Maximum 6 metres  Average female 4.5 metres Average male 3.5 metres

 

Distribution of Thresher Shark Distribution : Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. Can be found in coastal areas to far offshore, at the surface, down to depths of 350 metres.

 

Danger to man : Not usually considered aggressive, although it can inflict severe injury with it's tail, supposedly decapitating an American fisherman aboard a trawler with one swipe. Has been known to attack small boats on at least two occasions and due to it's speed and size, caution should be observed.
Economic Importance : The Thresher shark is an IGFA gamefish and will put up a great fight, sometimes leaping a couple of metres into the air. It is also fished commercially for it's skin, fins and flesh.
Other Comments : This is a very common shark, although over-fishing is reducing it's numbers greatly in some areas. It's tail is the same length as the rest of it's body and is used as a weapon to stun fish, but also used to encircle schools of fish and shepherd them will others kill them. One of the few sharks that hunt cooperatively.