Built for Speed

Built for Speed

We’ll be meeting some excellent species and of course our friend Chompy will stop by! Make sure you check out our Instagram for some fun videos and extra pictures! Today we are meeting one of the fastest sharks in the ocean- the shortfin mako! Let’s learn more about this speed demon!

SHORTFIN MAKO FUN FACTS:

• These sleek sharks are found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide.
• They can grow up to 12 feet and weigh up to 1,200 lbs.
• Shortfin makos can swim up 45 mph, making them the fastest shark in the oceans.
• They are also known for their ability to leap out of water.
• These carnivores primarily eat boney fish- like tuna. They are apex predators and have no natural predators.
• Makos are migratory and some individuals are known to make year long migrations.
• They have a special blood vessel system that helps them keep their body temperature higher than the surrounding water- allowing them to hunt in cold waters.
• Makos give birth to live young, but they are ovoviviparous- the eggs incubate inside the female and the young feed off any unfertilized eggs.

These fast predators are listed at VULNERABLE by the IUCN. They are fished for their meat and for their fins. When an apex predator such as the mako is removed from its ecosystem it can be disastrous. To learn how you can help sharks like the mako, check out Shark Savers.