Mako shark << MAH koh or MAY koh >> is a fast shark of the open ocean. There are two kinds of mako sharks. One is the shortfin mako. The other is the longfin mako.
The shortfin mako
is more common. It has a streamlined body with a pointed snout. It is dark blue on top with a pale belly. Its sides are metallic-blue fading to white. The shark can reach 13 feet (4 meters) long. It may weigh as much as 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms).
The shortfin mako is usually found in the open ocean. It lives in temperate (mild) and tropical oceans around the world. The shark typically migrates great distances in search of food. The shortfin mako is one of the fastest sharks in the ocean. It often leaps from the water.
The shortfin mako feeds on bluefish, sharks, squid, swordfish, tuna, and other prey. It occasionally feeds on sea turtles and dead marine mammals.
Females give birth to between 4 and 16 live young. The shortfin mako can live for more than 30 years.
The longfin mako
is similar to the shortfin mako in many ways. However, it has larger eyes and longer pectoral (side) fins. Also, it is brownish or blue-black under the snout. It is rare outside the western Atlantic Ocean.
Makos and people.
Commercial fishing boats catch mako sharks, often by accident. The shortfin mako has excellent meat. Longfin mako meat is of poorer quality. It is usually used for animal feed. The shortfin mako also is a prized game fish known for its acrobatics while fighting on the line. The numbers of both sharks have declined because of overfishing. Both species are now considered endangered. Mako sharks can be dangerous to people, but bites are rare.
