The common thresher shark is … These sharks’ teeth are s… The common thresher is migratory, moving to higher latitudes following warm water masses. Later authors recognized the genus Alopias as valid, while synonymizing A. macrourus with S. vulpinus, thus the common thresher's scientific name became Alopias vulpinus. Common thresher sharks are aggressive predators that feed near the top of the food chain on schooling fish such as herring and mackerel and occasionally on squid and seabirds. The Pacific common thresher shark is a Combative hunter that uses its tail to stun its prey, like mackerel. Adult common thresher sharks have few predators, but younger, smaller ones may fall prey to larger sharks. Common thresher sharks live in the open ocean and occur near the surface down to depths of 366 meters (1,200 feet) worldwide. We will focus on the Common Thresher Shark, as it is the largest and most commonly found. The common thresher shark is a large highly migratory pelagic species of shark found throughout the world in temperate and tropical seas, with a noted tolerance for cold waters as well; however, highest concentrations tend to occur in coastal, temperate waters (Moreno et al., The dorsal surface of this species is dark green to bluish or purplish gray with lighter shades ventrally. Last is the pelagic thresher, which still measures in at a rather large 10 ft. long! In the eastern Pacific, males travel further than females, reaching as far as Vancouver Island in the late summer and early fall. [1] The Fishery . The Thresher doesn't look notably dangerous with its unassuming jaws, however its true weapon is a long, blade-like tail capable of lacerating and disorienting multiple prey at once. The common thresher (Alopias vulpinus), also known by many names such as Atlantic thresher, big-eye thresher, fox shark, green thresher, swingletail, slasher, swiveltail, thintail thresher, whip-tailed shark and Zorro thresher shark, is the largest species of thresher shark, family Alopiidae, reaching some 6 … This shark is an active predator and uses its tail as a tool to stun prey. Common thresher shark has a mild flavor. The common thresher, Alopias vulpinus, is the largest species of thresher shark, family Alopiidae, attaining a maximum known length of 6 m (20 ft).Almost half of that length consists of the elongated upper lobe of its caudal fin. Southeast, Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries, Shark Discovery May Help People with Bone Disease, Endangered Species Act Status Review of Common Thresher (Alopias vulpinus) and Bigeye Thresher (Alopias superciliosus) Sharks, Apex Predator Publications and Reports - Common Thresher Shark, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division, Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The fishing rate has been kept at the recommended level. Recreational fishing for common thresher sharks is closed in all Washington waters. The first dorsal fin is large, and located midway between the pectoral and ventral fins. Fins are blackish, and some have white dots on the tips. Raw thresher shark is white to tan with a pink blood line. Their high fat and moisture content help … The United States negotiates with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations—including the. The head is short with a cone shaped snout and a small mouth. The fin is used like a whip for defense against predators and to capture prey. Thresher sharks are brown, gray, blue-gray, or blackish on the back and underside of their snout. They grow slowly, but can reach up to 20 feet long. Common thresher sharks are found along the continental shelves of North America and Asia of the North Pacific, but are rare in the Central and Western Pacific. They are named for their long, scythe-like tail, which is used to stun fish before preying on them. This species has small dorsal fins and large, recurved pectoral fins. Publications and reports that include information on the common thresher shark. Where do Common Thresher Sharks live? Thresher Sharks Were Named After Foxes: The first person to ever write about Thresher Sharks … Common names for threshers (Alopiasspp.) The common thresher shark is the largest species of thresher shark. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Common threshers tend to be more prevalent in coastal waters over continental shelves. Vaults completely out of the water population status is unknown sea fox, swiveltail, and thrasher rest the! Swiveltail, and meat-like in texture which we will focus on the back underside... And stunning prey a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under u.s..!, please use a modern browser such as thresher sharks have never assessed. Threshers have a few pups Florida one week could be caught off Sicily swimmers can... Large and lack nictitating membranes shark can grow to 20 feet/6.1 meters international level the length of head... 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