Shortfin Mako Shark essays

Shortfin Mako Shark essays The shortfin mako shark is the fastest fish in the world. It is capable of attaining speeds of up to 60 mph. Its dark red iron-rich muscles on the side of the sharks body and especially on the tail enable the shark to swim at these speeds. The speed of the mako affects its physical characteristics, its eating habits, and its predators. The average size of the shortfin mako shark is from 10 to 12 feet and the largest size ever recorded was 18 feet. This fish weighs about 1,000 pounds. Its large heavy conico-cylindrical shaped body is colored in such a way that it blends into the openwater environment making them invisible to prey. Its back is a deep blue gray and its underparts are snow white. The snout of this shark is bluntly pointed; this helps the shark to speed through the water. Its first dorsal fin, which is short starts behind the pectoral fins. This is unusual compared to other sharks in the mako sharks family. The anal fin is tiny compared to the dorsal fin. The mako has long gill slits and strong caudal keels. The upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin are of almost equal length. The mako has large eyes and is considered one of the most beautiful common sharks. The mako shark is found worldwide in temperate and tropical seas. It is found from the Gulf of Maine to the equator and is most densely populated in the Gulf of Mexico. These sharks are pelagic, yet they are occasionally found inshore. They migrate seasonally about 1,550 miles. In the summertime, mako sharks stay relatively close to the shore, about 20 miles out. In the winter they migrate into substantially deeper waters. They do this so that they can be in water The Isurus oxyrinchus has a two year reproduction cycle. Though few have been seen mating, scientists believe that the male makos attack the females and force them to mate. They believe this ...