Welcome back to another Finn Friday! Today we have another one of my top five favorite sharks: the shortfin mako! These guys have a need... a need for speed! And that is one of the reasons I think they are so cool. They are LITERALLY the fastest sharks in the world! Now, for the background information.
Where do they live?
Shortfin makos have a massive range. They can be found in almost every ocean around the globe! They are a pelagic species, so they prefer to stay in the deeper, cooler waters of the open ocean. They are also highly migratory, so individuals can travel all over the world!
How long do they live?
Shortfin makos are a very long-lived species. Adults can reach ages into their 30s!
What do they eat?
Really big fish! Shortfin makos are impressive hunters and feed at the top of the food chain. Some of their favorite meals include tuna, swordfish, marine mammals, and even other sharks!
What do they like to do?
Shortfin makos are an extremely active species. They swim long distances across entire oceans. When they are hunting, they are even known to leap out of the water, or breach, reaching impressive heights.
Now, onto my favorite bit, their speed!
Are you ready to have your mind blown? Because I am about to blow it. Like I said earlier, Shortfin Makos are the fastest shark in the world, as well as one of the fastest fish in general. They can reach speeds up to 45 mph! In comparison, the fastest man in the world can only reach speeds of up to 27 mph (which is still impressive, don't get me wrong). Now, you may be wondering, how are they able to reach speeds that fast? Most sharks and fish are ectotherms, meaning they don't really produce their own body heat, but instead regulate body temperature through external sources (like lizards sunning on a warm rock). Shortfin makos have a really cool adaptation that allows them to be warmer than their external environment. It is called a countercurrent exchanger, which is a specialized blood vessel structure. Have you ever noticed that when your hands get really cold they don't move as quickly as normal? This is because cold muscles are way less efficient than warmer muscles, so they don't work as well. The same is true for sharks. This special adaptation means that their muscles can stay warmer, which allows them to create those amazing bursts of speed!
Conservation Status:
Shortfin mako sharks are considered to be one of the most prized game fish in the world. Because of this, and the shark fin trade, they are subject to severe overfishing. Like most sharks, they don't reproduce until later in life (between the ages of 8 and 19 years old). They also have a long reproductive cycle (around 3 years). Due to these factors, their population is extremely vulnerable to this overfishing and isn't able to replenish itself quickly. The IUCN Red List categorizes them as endangered with a population that is continuing to decrease.
Thanks for learning with me! Now that you know all about the amazing Shortfin Mako and their mind-boggling speed skills, what do you think? I know I am rather biased, but I just think they are so neat! Are you curious about anything else about the world’s fastest shark? Leave your questions below!
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