Scientific Classification
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Chondrychthyes
ORDER: Lamniformes
FAMILY: Laknidae
GENUS: Isurus
Conservation Status
Makos are a medium-sized relative of the great white shark; growing an average of 10 feet long and weighing from 350 to 600 pounds. The largest recorded specimen weighed in at over 1,300 pounds and around 12 feet. As in all sharks, females are larger than males, and live longer. Just recently, scientists discovered makos can live over 30 years old!
Makos have been swimming in the oceans for 300 million years! In that time, they have developed a streamlined hydrodynamic body that slips through the water like a torpedo. The base of their tail is horizontally compressed at the rear so it can slice through the water like a blade so they can propel themselves forward much faster.
Other adaptations that give them an added edge include warm-bloodedness. This allows them to raise their body temperature an average of 10 degrees above the surrounding water. Warm blood is rarely seen in most fish and sharks, but is common in fast swimmers like makos. Warmer blood also gives a boost to their metabolism, endurance, and even intelligence. Mako sharks have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any shark.
The mako shark has another unique feature that sets it apart from other sharks. Most sharks use a powerful electroreceptive organ in the front of their snouts called the ampullae of lorenzini to detect electrical impulses from their prey, while the mako shark relies almost exclusively on their vision, smell, and hearing to successfully find food.
Some scientists believe shark’s skin evolved either from their teeth, or some others believe it was the other way around, their teeth evolved from skin.
They think this is because the skin looks very much like teeth up close, and sharks replace their teeth continuously throughout their lives.
Sharks do not have a swim bladder like fish do to keep them buoyant, instead they use their livers. These are very large compared to their body size and can sometimes be as much as 25% of their entire weight!
Mako sharks live far out at sea, and are usually found near the water’s surface and sometimes at depths up to 500 feet. This is one reason they are not a threat to man since they rarely venture towards shore. Most attacks are when humans are seeking the sharks out themselves or their prey.
They are found throughout temperate and tropical waters all over the world. The shortfin mako prefers cooler, more temperate waters where the longfin mako likes warmer tropical waters. There are areas where makos seem to congregate more, places like San Diego and the Northeastern US are popular places for mako sharks.
Makos sharks are considered a pelagic species, which means they inhabit the open ocean from the surface to around 500 feet. They typically stay in the photic zone, or where there is enough light for them to see their prey at depths of 260 feet or above.
Like all sharks, mako sharks are carnivores and will prey primarily on squid and octopuses, especially when young.
As they grow, they eat a variety of fish species including mackerel, tuna, and pacific bonito. As adults, they eat swordfish, dolphins, and even other sharks.
When hunting in the open ocean, there is really nowhere to hide, so makos have to rely on their speed and the element of surprise. They also have an advantage over most of their cold-blooded prey, which move slower.
Mako sharks will hide below their prey. When ready, they will rocket upwards in a burst of speed and smash into their prey. They make several passes and with each one, they take chunks out of their prey until they have devoured as much as they can.
This hit and run technique is probably the safest for the sharks because makos have often been found with broken swordfish beaks impaled in their heads.
As with most sharks, surprisingly little is known about mako shark reproduction. What we do know is rather fascinating.
Unlike most other fish, mako sharks give birth to live young. However, unlike humans or even marsupials, they simply hold the eggs inside their bodies until the young hatch. Once the young hatch they develop inside the mother feeding off of their own yolk sacs until they are about 18 months old. This process is known as ovoviviparity, which is a gestation period almost as long as an elephant!
During development, mako sharks do not engage in sibling cannibalism in the womb much like sand tiger sharks are known for. When ready, the mother usually gives birth to 4 to 18 young.
These sharks are very slow to reproduce, which is characteristic of an apex predator. Males reach sexual maturity at 8 years and females take as long as 18 years before they can reproduce.
The word mako comes from the New Zealand Maori term for shark.
In a variety of laboratory tests, makos would even let researchers handle them and would not fight back after they learned the people were no longer a danger. As we learn more, we are realizing sharks are much more complex, and more intelligent than we ever realized.
A mako’s level of intelligence is impressive, yet their claim to fame is still their lightning speed. They have the ability to cruise at 20 miles per hour and reach bursts of up to 46 miles per hour! They are true acrobats of the shark world and are famous for leaping high out of the water, sometimes as high as 30 feet.
