Happy Finn Friday everyone! I thought I would start us off with one of my top five favorite sharks (because I can't choose just one favorite; it's impossible so don't even ask). I love thresher sharks because of their amazing tails and how they use them (I'm a bit of a behavioral biology nerd). Before I get too carried away talking about tails, let's start with some basic background information. There are three separate species of Thresher sharks (Common, Big Eye, and Pelagic), but I am just going to cover general information that is true for all three types.
Where do they live?
Thresher sharks can be found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. They are highly migratory, which means they are world travelers! They can be found anywhere from Newfoundland to Cuba in the Atlantic Ocean! Thresher sharks are mainly pelagic, meaning they prefer to stay in the deeper water away from shore.
How long do they live?
In general, thresher sharks can live a pretty long time! They usually range in age from 19 to 50 years old.
What do they eat?
Thresher sharks are skilled hunters that eat near the top of the food chain. They prefer schooling fish, like herring or mackerel. They may even snack on a squid or sea bird every now and then!
What do they like to do?
While some sharks like to hang out in big groups, thresher sharks prefer their alone time. Every now and then you may find them hunting in a group of two or three, but, for the most part, they are solitary animals.
Now, on to my favorite bit, their tails!
Thresher sharks are known for, and named after, their long, scythe-shaped tails. They use these tails to help them hunt, but not in the way you may be thinking. They don't use it for an extra burst of speed or maneuverability; they use it to stun their prey! They whip their tail toward their prey and slap it. The slap stuns their prey, making it easier for them to catch!
Conservation Status:
Unfortunately, thresher sharks are highly prized game sharks for sport fishermen as well as prized for their meat, liver (shark liver oil is commonly used in skin care and beauty products), skin (made into leather), and fins (for shark fin soup). Because thresher sharks don't reproduce until later in life (around 3-6 years of age) and don't have many pups (that's what you call baby sharks) at a time, all three species are considered to be either vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Thanks for learning with me! Now that you know all about thresher sharks and their fin-tastic tails, what do you think? If you could have a super cool tail like thresher sharks, what would you want to use it for? I think I would like to have a tail to help me swim faster when I’m scuba diving that could double as a fan when it's really hot outside. Handy on land and in the sea. What else do you want to know about thresher sharks? Leave your questions below!
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