ANIMAL SPECIES:Blue Shark, Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Blue Shark is the most wide-ranging shark species, being recorded in all tropical and temperate seas. Adult Blue Sharks eat mainly fish and cephalopods such as squid.
Identification
The Blue Shark has a conical snout, a circular eye, and a long pectoral fin.The Blue Shark is recognised by its distinctively coloured slender body with a conical snout, and long, scythe-like pectoral fins. It has five gill slits, a heterocercal tail, large circular eyes and a first dorsal fin that is much larger than the second.
The species is sometimes confused with the Shortfin Mako Shark. The Blue Shark however has smaller gill slits, longer pectoral fins and serrated teeth.
Size range
The species grows to around 3.8 m in length.Distribution
It is the most wide-ranging shark species, being recorded in all tropical and temperate seas, from 50 degrees north to 40 degrees south.
In Australia it is recorded from all marine waters except the Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Blue Shark specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The Blue Shark is usually found in water of 12 degrees C to 20 degrees C, and is recorded from the surface to a depth of 350 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
Adult Blue Sharks eat mainly fish and cephalopods such as squid.
Life cycle
Baby Blue Sharks are nourished via a yolk sac placenta, and are born at a length between 35 cm ad 50 cm.
Classification
- Species:
- glauca
- Genus:
- Prionace
- Family:
- Carcharhinidae
- Class:
- Chondrichthyes
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Stevens, J.D. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
- Stevens, J.D. (Ed.) 1987. Sharks. Golden Press. Pp. 240.
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A Blue Shark off the coast of San Diego View full size
Phillip Colla
© Phillip Colla
Lateral view of a Blue Shark View full size
Phillip Colla
© Phillip Colla
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2 comments
Mark McGrouther
9.06 AM, 24 June 2009
You are quite correct. The Blue Shark is a very streamlined fish. Its conical snout, large tail and long pectoral fins all add up to it being a fast swimming predator. I agree that the Blue Shark really is a beautiful fish.
peppercorn
5.06 PM, 23 June 2009
These strange ancient predators of the sea are shaped like an airplane sleek and slender in design but deadly and quick at the same time when slicing through the sea like knife in movement.Despite this they are not chubby and big like their bigger brothers of the foodchain in the ocean the great white shark which has grey and white bland markings on the side of its body for camouflage inside the sea please write a written response serena marinucci
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