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THRESHER SHARK
Alopias vulpinus
SIZE
To about 18 ft (5.5 m).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- Caudal fin sickle-shaped, upper lobe extremely long (about 50 percent of total body length)
- Color brown through shades of gray to nearly black with dark purplish metallic hues above
- Abdomen white, with white extending above pectoral fins
DISTRIBUTION
Newfoundland, Canada, to Cuba, including Gulf of Mexico. Common in U.S. Northeast.
HABITAT
Coastal and offshore from surface to 1,000 ft (305 m); juveniles farther inshore.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Bigeye thresher has large eyes directed upward, deep grooves on top of head, white abdominal coloring that does not extend above pectoral fins.
MORE INFORMATION
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Text descriptions taken from Guide to Sharks, Tunas, & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico |
Thresher shark length-weight relationship
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(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)
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