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Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)
Blue Shark
Family: Carcharhinidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

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Map

Source: Distribution of Prionace glauca as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A slim, graceful blue shark with a long, conical snout, large eyes, and curved triangular upper teeth with saw edges; pectorals long and narrow; no interdorsal ridge (Ref. 5578). Dark blue dorsally, bright blue on the sides, white ventrally (Ref. 5578). Tips of pectoral fins and anal fin dusky (Ref. 9997).

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Biology

Species Biology

Oceanic, but may be found close inshore where the continental shelf is narrow (Ref. 6871,58302'> 58302). Usually found to at least 150 m (Ref. 26938). Reported from estuaries (Ref. 26340). Epipelagic, occasionally occurs in littoral areas (Ref.58302'> 58302). Feeds on fishes (herring, silver hake, white hake, red hake, cod, haddock, pollock, mackerel, butterfish, sea raven and flounders (Ref. 5951)), small sharks, squids, pelagic red crabs, cetacean carrion, occasional sea birds and garbage (Ref. 5578). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Sexual dimorphism occurs in skin thickness of maturing and adult females (Ref. 49562). May travel considerable distances (one specimen tagged in New Zealand was recaptured 1,200 km off the coast of Chile) (Ref. 26346). Potentially dangerous to humans (Ref. 6871, 13513).E nvironment: pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 1 - 350 m (Ref. 6871), usually 80 - 220 m (Ref. 55193) Climate: subtropical; 7 – 21°C (Ref. 244); 66°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Distribution

Distribution

Circumglobal in temperate and tropical waters. Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Canada to Argentina. Central Atlantic. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Indonesia, Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of Alaska to Chile. Probably the widest ranging chondrichthyian. Highly migratory species.

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNAR (Nov 2016)



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Additional Range and Status Information Links

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 University of Alaska Museum

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