| Family: |
Lamnidae (Mackerel sharks or white shark) |
| Max. size: |
305 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 175 kg; max. reported age: 27 years |
| Environment: |
pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 650 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
North Pacific: Japan, Korea, and the Sea of Okhotsk to the Bering Sea and southward to southern California, USA (Ref. 247) and Baja California, Mexico (Ref. 9253). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. First dorsal fin uniformly dark, no light rear tip; ventral surface of body white with dusky blotches (Ref. 247). |
| Biology: |
A coastal-littoral and epipelagic shark that prefers boreal to cool temperate waters, from the surface to at least 152 m, and is common in continental offshore waters but range inshore to just off beaches. Occurs singly or in schools or feeding aggregations of several individuals; feeds on fishes (Ref. 247). Seasonally migratory (following food prey) and segregate by age and sex where adults move further north than young (Ref. 58085). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 50449). With up to 4 young in a litter (Ref. 247). Fast swimmer (Ref. 9988). Potentially dangerous but has never or seldom been implicated in human attacks (Ref. 247). Causes considerable damage to commercial catches and gear (Ref. 6885). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, and frozen; fins, hides and livers are also used, with fins having particular value; can be broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Reported to attain at least 27 years of age and reach maximum depth of at least 792 m (in Ref. 119696). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
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