Habitat
Tropical and warm-temperate offshore waters, often well below 200 m.
All species
Longfin Mako Shark
Isurus paucus
Not aggressive
Rarer cousin of the shortfin mako, with extremely long pectoral fins.
Maximum size
3.7–4.3 m
Aggressiveness
Not aggressive
Ecology
Poorly studied; significant bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries.
Feeding
Squid and slow-moving schooling fish.
Behaviour
Slow, cruising swimmer compared to its shortfin relative.
Safety notes
No confirmed unprovoked attacks. Treat with caution due to size.
Conservation status
IUCN: Endangered.
Sources & Citations
Data compiled from peer-reviewed and authoritative open sources. Last reviewed 2026.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status for each species.
- The Shark Trust — Species Database
Biology, ecology and identification.
- FishBase
Maximum sizes, distribution and life-history data.
- Florida Museum — International Shark Attack File
Documented species behaviour around humans.
- Nature Gibraltar / Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society
Local marine fauna records around the Strait.