Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
 

Isurus oxyrinchus

Mangō Pāra (MT)

Shortfin Mako Shark

Multimedia & Additional Resources

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Open this image in pop-up window Image: Adult (colour illustration) 59KB
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Sideview, head & teeth detail (b&w illustration) 87KB
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Rarotonga specimen (August 2003) 61KB

General Information

COMMON NAMES: Shortfin Mako Shark, Shortfin Mako, Shortfin Mako Shark, Mako Shark, Bonito Shark, Blue Pointer; French Mako

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Mangō Kaku (MG MK), Mangō ‘A‘ai (AT), Mangō Pāra (MT), Mangō Para / Paru Mangō? (MH); Other Polynesian - Mao Aahi / Parata (MQA); COMMENT: Name based on similarity of taste to Wahoo.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Circumglobal (65°N to 50°S) [ incl. Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cooks]

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; S.Group (uncommon); N.Group ?; Marine, pelagic 0-750m

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Acceptable food.; Injurous bite - serious

KEY FEATURES: Large shark to 4m. Body spindle-shaped, relatively slender, with head very pointed. Tail-stalk flattened into wide and sharp lateral keels; dorsal and ventral crossways furrows at base of tail. TEETH single, slender, inward-curving blade without serrations and without lateral cusps; the two central teeth more slender than the rest. Live colour blue to greyish-blue above, white beneath.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Longfin Mako Shark (Isurus paucus) has pectoral fins long and subequal to head-length (vs. short); when over 2m underside is blotched dark (vs. without dark blotches). Not presently recorded but might occur.

Enlarged Image of 'Isurus oxyrinchus'

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR 
MG
AT
MK
MT
AK
PL
TK
MN
+
P
P

Northern Group:
TN 
MH
RK
PK
NS
SW

Key to Symbols

Scientific Taxonomy

Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque 1810
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; CHONDRICHTHYES; Lamniformes; LAMNIDAE

More Information

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Acceptable food.. Comments: An acceptable food-shark, occasionally caught by line.
NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Injurous bite - serious

GENERAL NOTE: A oceanic shark commonly swimming at the surface. Active, fierce, and dangerous. When hooked it will fight vigorously, including jumping from the water. It is both a game fish, and often used as food.

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Cooks: Compagno 1984, Vol. 4 Sharks... FAO Fish. Synop. 4(125)Pt.2. Rarotonga: Photo from gamefishing boat, ID J.E.Randall (Sims88); photo, CINews 8/Aug/2003, 250kgX10ft caught 13miles off Rarotonga by Davey Hibbs on Bold Contender, ID as Shortfin Mako by Davey Hibbs.

References:
Special Reference: Compagno 1984, Vol. 4 Sharks... FAO Fish. Synop. 4(125)Pt.2.

p.17 Randall et al. (1990) Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef....
p.40 Burgess et al. (1988) Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes (TFH)
plate 1-07 Allen (1997) Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia....

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD03b

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Copy citation to system clipboard
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