Sealife guideThe short fin makoIsurus oxyrinchus

Last updated on 06/12/2024 at 11:35 PM
Taxonomy
  • Common name: Short fin mako
  • French name: Requin mako, requin taupe bleu
  • Scientific name: Isurus oxyrinchus (Rafinesque, 1810)
  • Family name: Lamnidae
  • Order name: Lamniformes
  • Class name: Elasmobranchii
Description
The short fin mako has a streamlined body from head to tail. Its silhouette is shaped to give it exceptional performance when moving through the water !
The short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
The short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) © | Dreamstime.com
On average, they measure around 4 meters long and weigh around 160 kg, but the largest specimens can easily reach 500 kg.
The short fin mako's body is midnight blue on the dorsal side and whitish on the ventral side, enabling it to blend into its deep-sea environment.
Geographic range
The short fin mako is found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world's oceans and seas.
Habitat
The short fin mako evolves from the surface to depths of over 800 meters, which is quite a feat given the cold temperatures. The impressive depths reached by the mako shark were recorded by tracking several individuals over a given period, using tags worn by the sharks and transmitted by satellite.
At these great depths, the short fin mako has to cope with extreme temperatures close to 5 degrees Celsius.
Did you know ?
The short fin mako is a formidable predator, reaching speeds of 70 km/h or even 100 km/h to hunt its equally fast prey, such as yellowfin tuna and swordfish.
The short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
The short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) © | Dreamstime.com
A true ocean sprinter, the mako shark has less endurance over long distances.
Thanks to its ability to regulate its body temperature several degrees above that of the surrounding water, the mako shark is faster than cold-blooded sharks and the great white shark, a warm-blooded shark, and remains fast at greater depths.
The short fin mako is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The short fin mako appears in the IUCN Red List since 2019 within the category Endangered !
Within the same genus
Longfin mako (Isurus paucus)
Longfin mako
(Isurus paucus)
Within the same family
Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Basking Shark
(Cetorhinus maximus)
Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Great white shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)
Discover also
Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Common angelshark (Squatina squatina)
Common angelshark
(Squatina squatina)
Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
Great hammerhead shark
(Sphyrna mokarran)
Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)
Leopard catshark
(Poroderma pantherinum)
Puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Puffadder shyshark
(Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
Small-spotted catshark
(Scyliorhinus canicula)
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)

Our latestUpdates

Where to see groupers in the Mediterranean ?
Thursday, April 23rd 2026
Where to see groupers in the Mediterranean ?
Discover where to see groupers in the Mediterranean: the best diving spots and protected marine areas to observe this iconic fish in its natural habitat.
The broadnose sevengill shark
Monday, April 20th 2026
The broadnose sevengill shark
Discover the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus), a large primitive coastal shark with seven gill slits living in temperate and subtropical waters around the world.
The blueface angelfish
Monday, March 2nd 2026
The blueface angelfish
The blueface angelfish is a very colorful fish of the tropical coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, recognizable by its bright blue head and its bluish body finely reticulated with yellow.
Photo of the Day
Langouste brésilienne (Panulirus guttatus)
Langouste brésilienne
(Panulirus guttatus)