-The Mako Shark-
The mako shark is one of the most popular sharks in Mid-Atlantic markets. This species is deep blue-gray above, changing along the sides to a snowy white belly. Soon after death, these colors change to dark slate gray above and pale dirty gray below. Mako can reach 12 feet and 1,000 pounds, but more are 5-8 feet long. Mako sharks inhabit oceanic tropical and warm, temperate waters in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. Off the East Coast, the Atlantic mako is most abundant in warmer areas, but moves northward to southern New England in the summer. One of the most active and swiftest-swimming of all sharks, the mako has the amazing habit of leaping out of the water when hooked. Its fighting ability makes it a superb game fish.
Makos are mackerel sharks that are incredibly fast swimmers and can also leap out of the water. They are sought after game fish. Mako is a Maori word. The short-finned Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) has a conical snout, and long gill slits. It is pelagic but occasionally goes inshore. It is dark gray-blue on top and white on its belly. It is also known as the bonito and the blue pointer.
TEETH
The Mako's teeth are long, thin, and sharp. This enables the shark to catch slippery fish, the mainstay of its diet. Sharks teeth are located in rows which rotate into use as needed. The first two rows are used in obtaining prey, the other rows rotate into place as they are needed. As teeth are lost, broken, or worn down, they are replaced by new teeth that rotate into place.
DIET AND FEEDING HABITS
Makos eat schooling fish, including tuna, herring, mackerel, swordfish, and porpoise. They are opportunistic feeders, eating just about anything.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Short-finned Makos are found world-wide in temperate and tropical seas. Makos range from the surface to relatively deep waters. They are pelagic oceanic swimmers, but are occasionally found inshore. In warm, tropical oceans, they swim deep below the surface as they prefer cool water (about 65°F (18.5°C)). They are found off the island of Tahiti at depths of 650-1,300 feet (200-400 m).
MAKO SHARK ATTACKS
The Mako is considered dangerous and there have been attacks on people.
REPRODUCTION
Makos reproduce via aplacental viviparity. The pups are cannibalistic in the womb. On average, 10 -12 pups are born in each litter and are about 2 feet (0.6 m) long at birth.
SPEED
Mako sharks are the fastest swimming sharks and can even leap out of the water. They are also probably among the fastest fish. Estimates of their speed varies; some say that they can swim at about 60 miles per hour (97 kph), while more conservative estimates are about 22 mph (35 kph). There hasn't been enough experimentation on their speeds to have an definitive answer.
MIGRATION
The short-finned Mako migrates about 1550 miles (2500 km) seasonally.
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