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Great White Shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)
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Porbeagle Shark
(Lamna nasus)
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Basking Shark
(Cetorhinus maximus)
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Illustrations: R. Aidan Martin |
Mackeral Sharks include the most famous sharks, such as the Thresher, Mako, and the most famous of them all, the Great White Shark. (Many biologists and shark enthusiasts call it by its less theatrical name of White Shark). Most Mackerel Sharks are the apex predator of their habitat. However, two of the great filter-feeding sharks, Basking and Megamouth Sharks, eat mostly plankton. |
Click to view gallery
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Carcharias taurus), off the coast of North Carolina. Sand Tigers are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: David Ulloa
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Sand Tiger Shark
Sand Tiger Shark
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Carcharias taurus), off the coast of North Carolina. Sand Tigers are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: David Ulloa
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Sand Tiger Shark
Sand Tiger Shark
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Carcharias taurus), off the coast of North Carolina. Sand Tigers are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: David Ulloa
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Sand Tiger Shark
Sand Tiger Shark
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Carcharias taurus), wreck of the Papoose, N. Carolina, Atlantic Ocean. Sand Tigers are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Sand tiger shark
Sand tiger shark
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Carcharias taurus), wreck of the Papoose, N. Carolina, Atlantic Ocean. Sand Tigers are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Sand tiger shark
Sand tiger shark
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Alopias pelagicus), being cleaned by cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, Philippines, Pacific Ocean. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Pelagic thresher shark
Pelagic thresher shark
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Alopias pelagicus), Philippines, Pacific Ocean. Photo: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Pelagic thresher shark
Pelagic thresher shark
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Carcharodon carcharias), Dyer Island, Gansbaai, South Africa. White Sharks are on the IUCN Red List and CITES list of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Great white shark
Great white shark
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Carcharodon carcharias), Guadalupe. White Sharks are on the IUCN Red List and CITES list of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Great white shark
Great white shark
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Carcharodon carcharias), Guadalupe. White Sharks are on the IUCN Red List and CITES list of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Great white shark
Great white shark
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Carcharodon carcharias), Guadalupe. White Sharks are on the IUCN Red List and CITES list of Endangered Species. Photo by: Mary O'Malley
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Great white shark
Great white shark
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Carcharodon carcharias). White Sharks are on the IUCN Red List and CITES list of Endangered Species. Photo by: Will Allen
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Great white shark
Great white shark
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Isurus oxyrinchus), off the California coast. Both longfin and shortfin Makos are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo By: Paul Spielvogel
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Mako Shark
Mako Shark
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Lamna ditropis), Alaska. Photo by Nathan Meadows.
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Salmon shark
Salmon shark
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Lamna ditropis), Alaska, showing parasitic copepods on the fins. Photo by Nathan Meadows.
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Salmon shark
Salmon shark
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Lamna nasus), Nova Scotia, Canada (North Atlantic Ocean). Porbeagles are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Porbeagle shark
Porbeagle shark
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Characteristics of Mackerel Sharks, Order Lamniformes
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# of species
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15
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Body shape
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Rounded. Range from 3.6 feet (Crocodile Shark) to 32 feet (Basking Shark)
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Mouth position
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Underneath (subterminal), extends well past eyes
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Anal fin
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Yes
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Dorsal fin
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2
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Fin spines
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No
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# of gill slits
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5
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Reproduction
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Ovoviviparous (eggs developing in the female's body with no placenta and born alive). Some species are oviphagous (fetuses eat unfertlized eggs). Sandtiger pups will feed on siblings in-utero.
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Unique qualities
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"lamnoid dental pattern" in many species: large anterior teeth, smaller intermediate, large laterals and smaller posteriors.
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Habitat
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Marine; coastal to open-ocean; cold temperate to tropical , Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
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Food
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Fish, squid, up to sea mammals. 2 species filter plankton
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