Buzz
While smaller than their famous relative, the great white shark, mako sharks are remarkable in their own regard. Known for their incredible speed and strength, these predators have captured the imagination of authors and even play an unexpected role in predicting election outcomes. Discover more below.
1. Mako sharks come in two distinct species.
For more than a century and a half, scientists believed only one species of mako shark existed: the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrhinchus), first described scientifically in 1810. It wasn't until 1966 that the longfin mako (Isurus paucus) was identified and classified as a separate species.
Distinguishing the second species was challenging due to their similar appearances—both are pelagic predators with pointed snouts, bluish-grey tops, and white undersides. They inhabit overlapping regions, favoring warm tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. To differentiate them, examine their flanks: The longfin mako, as its name suggests, has notably longer pectoral fins and is generally larger in size.
2. The longfin mako ranks as the second-largest shark in the Lamnidae family.
The Lamnidae family comprises the salmon shark, the porbeagle, and the great white. While the great white, measuring up to 19.6 feet, is the largest, the longfin mako follows closely with a maximum recorded length of 14 feet. In comparison, the shortfin mako tops out at 12.8 feet.
3. Shortfin mako sharks can achieve speeds of at least 31 mph.
Designed for rapid movement, the shortfin mako boasts a sleek, torpedo-shaped body that reduces water resistance. Its short pectoral and dorsal fins minimize drag, enabling it to glide effortlessly through the water. Unique flexible scales behind its gills and along its sides can bristle upwards at angles exceeding 60 degrees, potentially aiding in water flow manipulation to further reduce drag. These features allow the shortfin mako to reach speeds of at least 31 mph, with some unverified reports suggesting adult speeds of 45 mph or higher. A juvenile was once estimated to reach 60 mph, though this measurement may lack full reliability.
The exact speed of the longfin mako remains uncertain. While fewer studies have focused on this species, its longer fins suggest it is likely slower compared to its shortfin counterpart.
4. The term Mako originates from the Māori language.
In Māori culture, shark tooth necklaces and earrings were traditional adornments. The word Mako in Māori can refer to either “shark” or “shark tooth.” While longfin makos are not found in New Zealand waters, shortfin makos are prevalent, particularly around the northern regions of the country.
5. Male and female shortfin makos appear to avoid each other.
From December 2004, biologist Gonzalo Mucientes and his team spent four months studying sharks in the southeastern Pacific. They observed adult shortfin makos engaging in sexual segregation. An imaginary north-south line between Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the Pitcairn Islands revealed a clear divide: males dominated one side, while females were more common on the other. A similar sexual divide was noted in the north Pacific. Researchers believe this behavior allows females not ready to reproduce to avoid unwanted attention from males.
6. Shortfin mako sharks grow and mature at a slow pace.
After a gestation period estimated at 15 to 18 months, shortfin mako pups are born measuring 25 to 28 inches long. A 2009 study revealed that males reach full maturity between 7 and 9 years, while females take much longer, maturing between 18 and 21 years. With a lifespan of 29 to 32 years, the slow maturation process makes it challenging for their populations to recover from declines.
7. Makos are known to prey on swordfish.
Shortfin makos are swift predators that target fast-moving fish. Bluefish are a preferred meal, with examinations of 399 shortfin mako carcasses revealing bluefish remains in 67% of their stomachs. They also feed on squid, tuna, billfish, and occasionally dolphins or porpoises.
These sharks also hunt swordfish and sailfish, but these prey can fight back with their sharp beaks. Many shortfin makos bear stab or puncture wounds; one female was found dead with a sailfish beak embedded in her eye. Similar injuries observed in longfin makos suggest they also have a combative (and likely predatory) relationship with swordfish.
8. Shortfin makos occasionally leap onto boats.
Known for their size, speed, and determination, shortfin makos are highly sought after by sport fishermen worldwide. However, reeling one in is no easy feat. As Jaws author Peter Benchley described, “Most sharks feel like dragging wet laundry or lifting a cow. But battling a mako is akin to riding a bull or wrestling a furious crocodile.”
The challenge intensifies when these sharks take to the air. Shortfin makos are known to jump up to 20 feet above the water, often after being hooked. This behavior has led to bizarre incidents where makos have landed on boats. In 2013, a 303-pound shortfin launched itself onto a private fishing boat off New Jersey, causing $5000 in damage. Similarly, in 2017, a 10-foot mako was returned to Long Island waters after leaping onto a chartered boat and getting trapped under its guard rail.
9. One species is highly valued for its meat.
While the shortfin mako is prized for its fighting spirit, it’s also targeted for its meat. Wildlife ecologist Michael Byrne explained to Popular Science, “They’re one of the few shark species with commercially viable meat.” The meat, which resembles swordfish in flavor, is used in dishes ranging from stews to fish tacos. Longfin mako meat is also consumed, though the University of Florida notes it is inferior in quality. Despite this, longfins are hunted for their fins, which are highly valued as decorative items.
If a species is fished, it risks being overfished. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists both mako species as “vulnerable,” a classification for animals at risk of becoming endangered. Many of these sharks are unintentionally caught during large-scale fishing operations targeting tuna or swordfish. Additionally, the shortfin mako’s slow growth and maturation rates have exacerbated its population decline in numerous regions.
10. Ernest Hemingway featured them in his writing.
In The Old Man and the Sea—one of his final works and the novel that earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1953—Hemingway included a mako shark in a pivotal scene. The protagonist, Santiago, a Cuban fisherman, battles an Atlantic blue marlin. After harpooning the marlin, he faces a new threat from a mako shark:
“The shark’s arrival was no accident. It had risen from the depths, drawn by the dark cloud of blood spreading through the mile-deep sea. It surged upward with such speed and recklessness that it broke the surface, emerging into the sunlight … It was a massive Mako shark, designed to swim as swiftly as the fastest fish in the ocean, and every part of it was magnificent except for its menacing jaws.”
A fierce struggle unfolds between Santiago and the shark. Although Santiago kills the predator, it devours 40 pounds of marlin meat, ensuring that more scavengers will be drawn to the remains.
11. Florida scientists are leveraging mako sharks to forecast election outcomes.
Why rely on polls when sharks can predict results? At Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, researchers track wild sharks using satellite tags. In 2016, they creatively promoted their program by using data from two makos to predict the presidential election results. Each shark was named after a candidate, and the one that swam the farthest between September 26 and November 1 would “win.” The Donald Trump shark covered 652.44 miles, outpacing the Hillary Clinton shark’s 510.07 miles. The university repeated the same method for Florida’s 2018 Senate and gubernatorial races, declaring Ron DeSantis and Bill Nelson as winners. (DeSantis won; Nelson did not.)
