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Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810
Shark; Shortfin Shark
Family: Lamnidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

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Map

Source: Distribution of Isurus oxyrinchus as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A large, spindle-shaped shark with large black eyes, a sharp snout, and large, narrow, hooked teeth with smooth edges. Caudal fin lunate, lower lobe strongly developed. Dark blue above, white below. Tiny second dorsal and anal fins. Pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; marine; depth range 0 - 740 m, usually 100 - 150 m. Subtropical.

Max length : 400 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 270 cm TL male/unsexed; max. published weight: 505.8 kg; max. reported age: 25 years.

Source: FishBase. Fishbase: Compagno, L.J.V. 1984.

Biology

Species Biology

Oceanic, but sometimes found close inshore. Usually in surface waters, down to about 150 m. Coastal, epipelagic at 1->500 m. Feeds on bony fishes, other sharks, cephalopods; larger individuals may feed on larger prey such as billfish and small cetaceans. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. With up to 18 young in a litter. Tagging in New Zealand indicates seasonal migrations. Probably the fastest of all sharks and can leap out of the water when hooked. Potentially dangerous and responsible for unprovoked attacks on swimmers and boats. Give birth to 4-16 young, 60-70 cm long. 15-18 months gestation period; reproduces every 3 years. Diet consists primarily of small to very large fishes, as well as elasmobranchs, cephalopods and occasionally marine mammals.

Source: FishBase. Fishbase: Compagno, L.J.V. 1984.

Distribution

Distribution

Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil and Argentina , including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, north to Primorskiy Kray (Russian Federation), south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: south of Aleutian Islands and from southern California, USA to Chile.

Source: FishBase. Fishbase: Compagno, L.J.V. 1984.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
 University of Alaska Museum

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