Thresher Shark

Up to 11, but generally under 10'. The tail is so large that it accounts for 33 percent of the shark's total body weight. Average is 250-350 pounds; both grow to perhaps 1,000 pounds. World record 767 pounds, 3 ounces; F

Fox Shark

The deep sea; sometimes seen at the surface but almost always caught far under it. Pelagic waters from the surface to depths of over 500 ft. Rarely seen near shore, the thresher shark mostly lives along the continental shelves of North America and Asia. It has been identified in all of the world's tropical oceans. Thresher sharks are solitary. In fact, scientists recently determined that populations in the Indian Ocean were separated both by depth and gender. Found abundantly near the edge of continental and insular shelves, but also in the open sea and occasionally inshore. Often found in deepwater reefs and near insular slopes. Littoral and epipelagic, in the open sea or near the bottom at 18-500 m. It is quick-moving and aggressive. Solitary; often associated with schools of tuna. Feeds mainly on fishes, but also squid, paper nautiluses, and pelagic crabs. Viviparous. Regarded as dangerous to humans. Flesh utilized fresh and dried-salted for human consumption; its hide for leather; its fin for shark-fin soup; its liver for oil. 2 to 14 young, 73 to 87 cm, are born per litter

The muscular thresher shark cuts quite a figure as it navigates through its deepwater domains. Also called the "thrasher shark," this species possesses a distinctive large tail that resembles the arc of a rainbow. The tail is so large that it accounts for 33 percent of the shark's total body weight. Common threshers have a countershaded body, dark blue-gray above and white underneath. It has small jaws, but can use its tail to corral and even kill fish. The first dorsal fin is much, much bigger than the second; the pectoral fins are curved. Like other mackerel sharks, it has an anal fin, 5 gill slits, 2 dorsal fins, no fin spines, mouth behind the eyes, and no nictitating eyelids. It is a very strong swimmer and can even leap out of the water. It is mostly nocturnal (most active at night). Like a giant sea rake, the tail of the thresher shark helps to herd bony fishes and to whack at them, if necessary, before consumption. Usually this shark's hunting technique involves stirring the water around schools of fish, which traps them in a mini whirlpool. The terrified fish huddle together, making them a perfectly concentrated potential meal for the shark. It then zooms into the fish huddle, mouth agape. It also eats squid, bony fishes; stunning the prey with its tail before feeding. The thresher shark can swim at high speeds in short bursts and may even leap high out of the water if threatened or provoked from above. Can reach common maximum depth ofT 1,640 feet

Viviparous, placental. 2-15 pups born at 57-87 cm TL; 1-16 pups born at 55-72 cm TL. Females appear to breed every year, but there appears to be no reproductive seasonality. Distinct pairing with embrace

Summary of Distribution: Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to Uruguay. Eastern Atlantic: Spain, Madeira to northern Angola; St. Paul's Rocks; Cape Verde. Indo-Pacific: scattered records from the Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to China, New Zealand, and the Caroline, Hawaiian, Phoenix and Line islands. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico to northern Chile. Highly migratory species
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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Heavy classes of ocean tackle.

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