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LONGFIN MAKO
Isurus paucus
SIZE
To about 14 ft (4.3 m).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- Pectoral fins long (as long as or longer than head), broad-tipped
- Color dark blue to bluish-black above, bluish-gray or white below
- Eyes large
- Mouth area and underside of conical snout dusky or bluish-black
- Caudal fin lunate with single keel on caudal peduncle
- Teeth long, bladelike, smooth-edged, protruding from mouth
DISTRIBUTION
Georges Bank to Gulf of Mexico. Generally rare throughout its range.
HABITAT
Offshore; deep dwelling.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Shortfin mako has smaller eyes, white area around mouth and underside of snout except in large individuals (800-1,000 lb (363-454 kg)), pectoral fins shorter than head length. Blue shark lacks lunate caudal fin, caudal keels, sharply pointed snout. White shark has triangular teeth with serrated edges, blunter snout. Porbeagle has shorter pectoral fins, small secondary keels on caudal fin, teeth with lateral cusplets.
MORE INFORMATION
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Text descriptions taken from Guide to Sharks, Tunas, & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico |
www.nefsc.noaa.gov |
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(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)
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