TM
Common Name: Common Thresher Shark
Scientific Name: Alopias vulpinus
Size: Up to 5.5m
Found: Worldwide in tropical waters.
Population Status: Vulnerable to extinction (IUCN 2007)
Tooth Shape:
Long slender teeth for eating schooling pelagic fishes and squid.
Reproduction:
Ovoviviparous - eggs hatch inside the mother, and live young are born.
Pups inside the uterus are oophagus (eat other eggs) and after a gestation of about 12 months normally 2 pups are born of 150cm in length.
Interesting Facts:
There are 3 species of Thresher Sharks - see below for more information.
Threshers exhibit diel vertical migration - staying at depth during the day at rising to the surface to feed at night.
All the thresher sharks (Family Alopiidae) have an extremely long upper lobe of the caudal fin, this is used in a whip-like fashion to stun their prey.
Common Name: Bigeye Thresher Shark
Scientific Name: Alopias superciliosus
Size: Av 3.3-4.0m, up to 4.9m
Found: Worldwide in tropical waters.
Population Status: Vulnerable to extinction (IUCN 2007)
Interesting Facts:
Bigeye Threshers have large eyes, up to 10cm in diameter, that are well adapted to seeing in low light.
The bigeye thresher shark is rarely encountered by divers underwater and poses no danger. They are however, heavily impacted by longline fisheries.
Common Name: Pelagic Thresher Shark
Scientific Name: Alopias pelagicus
Size: Av 3.0m
Found: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters.
Population Status: Vulnerable to extinction (IUCN 2007)
Interesting Facts:
The Pelagic Thresher is the smallest of all 3 Thresher species.
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