New Zealand country information

Common names: Mako, Mako, Mako shark
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Cox, G. and M. Francis, 1997
Importance: commercial | Ref: Armitage, R.O., D.A. Payne, G.J. Lockley, H.M. Currie, R.L. Colban, B.G. Lamb and L.J. Paul (eds.), 1994
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: gamefish: yes;
Comments: Ranges from Kermadec Islands to the Snares shelf (Ref. 89422). First record in the Chathams Island (Ref. 45493). Recaptures of tagged specimens at or very close to their original east coast tagging sites peak annually, indicating seasonal migrations (Ref. 26346). Penetrates further south during the summer (Ref. 26346). Most sought-after shark by game fishers (Ref. 26346). A non-fatal attack in the northern North Island (Slipper I.) has been attributed to this species. Voucher specimen(s) held at the NMNZ (Ref. 5755). Also Ref. 247, 43278, 43939.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html
National Fisheries Authority: https://www.fish.govt.nz/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Cox, G. and M. Francis, 1997
National Database:

Classification / Names

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks) > Lamnidae (Mackerel sharks or white shark)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Акула-мако, Taupe bleue, Marrajo dientuso, ... more

Main reference

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. (Ref. 247)
References | Biblio | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 445 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 106604); common length : 270 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 505.8 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 32 years (Ref. 86588)

Length at first maturity
L_m 277.5, range 275 - 285 cm

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 750 m (Ref. 106604), usually 100 - 150 m (Ref. 36731)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 16°C - ? (Ref. 9988), preferred 26°C (Ref. 107945); 61°N - 56°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution

Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical seas (Ref. 6871, 11230). Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil and Argentina (Ref. 58839), including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, north to Primorskiy Kray (Russian Federation), south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: south of Aleutian Islands and from southern California, USA to Chile.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A large, spindle-shaped shark with large black eyes, a sharp snout, and large, narrow, hooked teeth with smooth edges (Ref. 5578). Caudal fin lunate, lower lobe strongly developed (Ref. 13574). Dark blue above, white below (Ref. 6581). Tiny second dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 26938).

Oceanic, but sometimes found close inshore (Ref. 6871, 11230, 58302). Usually in surface waters (Ref. 30573), down to about 150 m (Ref. 26938, 11230). Coastal, epipelagic at 1->500 m (Ref. 58302). Isotope analysis has shown that shortfin mako is the highest level fish predator in oceanic waters off eastern Australia (Ref. 86961). Adults feed on bony fishes, other sharks (Ref. 5578), cephalopods; larger individuals may feed on larger prey such as billfish and small cetaceans (Ref. 6871, 58048). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 43278, 50449). With 4-16 young of about 60-70 cm long (Ref. 35388, 26346). Gestation period lasts 15-18 months, spawning cycle is every 3 years. Some authors (Refs. 1661, 28081, 31395) have erroneously assumed that two age rings are deposited per year by this species, thus underestimating longevity, age at maturity, and resilience . These data have been removed and replaced by recent, verified estimates (Refs. 86586, 86587, 86588). Tagging in New Zealand indicates seasonal migrations (Ref. 26346). The presence of genetic differentiation in mitochondrial DNA across global populations (Ref. 36416) suggests dispersal may be male-biased, and that females may have natal site-fidelity. Shortfin mako has been shown to have a marked sexually segregated population structure (Ref. 86954). Shortfin mako is probably the fastest of all sharks and can leap out of the water when hooked (Ref. 6871). Potentially dangerous and responsible for unprovoked attacks on swimmers and boats (Ref. 13574). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; eaten broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Valued for its fine quality meat as well as its fins and skin (Ref. 247). Oil is extracted for vitamins and fins for shark-fin soup (Ref. 13574). Jaws and teeth are also sold as ornaments and trophies (Ref. 9988). by Kabasakal & de Maddalena, 2011 reported a historical record of a larger specimen, caught in the Mediterranean Sea off Turkey, about 585 cm (TL estimated from photographs) (Ref. 106604).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2abd+3bd+4abd)

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 247)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

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FAO areas
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Ecology
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Common names
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Predators
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Age/Size
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Length-weight
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Morphometrics
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References
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Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.7813 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.5 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (rm=0.051; K=0.2; tmax=28; tm=20; Fec=4)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Very high vulnerability (83 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Medium

Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810