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Learn about the distinctive features of Mako shark teeth, such as their straight shape, dark color, and high iron content. Find out how to collect these rare and valuable specimens from deep-sea waters or local beaches.
Learn about mako shark, a swift and potentially dangerous shark with long slender teeth. Find out its size, diet, distribution, and conservation status.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the shortfin mako shark, a large mackerel shark with a pointed snout and blue coloration. Find out how its teeth are shaped, serrated and curved, and how they are used for hunting and defense.
- Mako Shark Facts - The Isurus Genus - The Details
- Mako Shark Evolution General Overview
- Isurus oxyrinchus Tooth Morphology
- Examples of Mako Shark Fossils
Types of Mako Sharks
There are two living species of mako sharks today. The Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the less common Longfin Mako (Isurus paucus). Both Makos are very similar, but the Long-fin Mako has a slimmer body and larger fins.
Mako Shark Range, Diet, and Size
Makos are pelagic, they prefer the open ocean, and live in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. They are also very hydrodynamic, and are among the fastest fish. Depending on the source, they can attain speeds anywhere from 20 mph to 30 mph. According to theFMNH, the average adult size is around 10 feet (3.2 m). Because of their size and speed, Makos are a popular sport fish.
Due to the nature of mainly isolated teeth being found and a wide range of tooth morphology in mako sharks, research on mako shark evolution appears to be convoluted and incomplete. A detailed account of Mako shark evolution is beyond the scope of this page. The section below gives a very general overview of Mako shark evolution. Mako sharks first ...
The wide, triangular teeth that are often called "makos" by amateur fossil collectors are actually extinct White Sharks. If you are looking for informationand identification for those teeth, go to the Prehistoric White Shark Page. Isurus oxyrinchus, an extant Mako shark is thought by some to be the same as I. desori, an extinct mako shark.Therefore...
Isurus oxyrinchus aka Isurus desori Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus teeth are very similar to the fossil I. desori teeth. Many believe it should be assigned to the same species.
Learn how shark teeth vary in shape, function and evolution, from serrated to needle-like to flat. Find out how sharks lose and replace their teeth, and how fossils reveal their history.
Learn about the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), a cosmopolitan predator with smooth-edged teeth and a lunate caudal fin. Find out its size, range, diet, behavior, reproduction, and threats.
Discover the sleek and powerful design of modern mako shark teeth. These razor-sharp weapons are built for speed and precision.
