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.

Cook Islands Distribution

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

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

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:
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

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