Sometimes referred to as Bonitos, Mako Sharks are a vulnerable species, in part due to loss of habitat and pollution, and in part due to predation by humans. The fastest of all sharks, they are capable of reaching an estimated speed of fifty to sixty miles per hour, which enables them to capture their favorite prey, tuna. Besides being the speediest of all shark species, these sharks have been seen jumping over thirty feet in the air. Let’s take a closer look at the longfin and shortfin Mako sharks, and see what makes them tick.
Shortfin Mako Sharks
Inhabiting offshore temperate and tropical seas and oceans worldwide, this pelagic shark species has been catalogued at depths to 150 meters. Rarely encountered in waters colder than 61 degrees Fahrenheit, they tend to migrate seasonally; for example, in the western Atlantic, these sharks can be found as far south as Argentina and as far north as Browns Bank just off Nova Scotia. They are commonly encountered in the Gulf of Mexico, as well. The extent of their migratory patterns was illustrated in December of 1998, when a tagged female that had been recorded in California was captured by a Japanese research vessel working 1,725 miles away in the Central Pacific. Another tagged shark being tracked swam 1,322 miles over a period of 37 days, making incredible time at 36 miles per day.
Like other sharks, Shortfin Makos consume a variety of fish and other marine life, but one of their favorite foods is swordfish. Some makos have been found with amputated swordfish bills still impaled in their gills and even stuck in their heads, which suggests that the fighting that goes on between the two species is fierce.
Longfin Mako Sharks
Preferring warmer offshore waters, and often found inhabiting areas affected by the Gulf Stream, Longfin Mako Sharks are also speedy, but not quite as fast as their shorter finned cousins. Named for their long, broad pectoral fins, these sharks have been recorded throughout the world, including along the East Coast of the United States, in the Mediterranean, and in the Indian Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, the species has been encountered throughout Japan and Taiwan, off northeast Australia, and throughout Micronesia, as well as in waters off California. Rarely encountered by divers, due to its deep diving habits, this shark is not usually found at depths shallower than 90 meters in most places, though it has been recorded at depths of around 50 meters in New South Wales.
Mako sharks have teeth designed to hook and grab fast moving prey, and while the longfinned variety are subject to finning, the shortfinned mako has attacked and killed people in the past. Beautifully iridescent when seen below the surface, with deep purple to indigo dorsal sides and white ventral sides, these sharks are known to become agitated and swim in figure eight patterns just prior to attack. Keeping a vertical profile and sticking close to your buddy during a mako shark encounter are two good ways to prevent yourself from being mistaken for prey. Never try to feed a mako shark and don’t ever try to touch one, no matter how close it comes. If it hooks you with its teeth, there’s no way it can spit you out; respect these animals as the predators they are, and you’ll find yourself enjoying an amazing encounter like no other.