Mako shark
| Mako shark Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shortfin mako shark (I. oxyrinchus) | |
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| Longfin mako shark (I. paucus) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Lamniformes |
| Family: | Lamnidae |
| Genus: | Isurus Rafinesque, 1810 |
| Type species | |
| Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Mako sharks are predatory mackerel sharks of the genus Isurus (meaning "equal tail"). They are largely pelagic, and are fast, predatory fish capable of swimming at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). The two species of mako sharks are sexually dimorphic, with females being larger than males, and are large sharks. Both species are classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN.
Two species of mako shark currently exist: The shortfin mako shark, and the longfin mako shark. The shortfin mako shark is the fastest shark in the world, capable of speeds of 74 km/h (46 mph) in bursts. The longfin mako shark is the larger and slower of the two, reaching upwards of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length and weighing over 70 kg (150 lb); it is the second largest shark in its family, Lamnidae, after the great white shark.