MAKO SHARK

(Isurus), any of certain swift, active, potentially dangerous sharks of the mackerel shark family, Isuridae. Two species are generally recognized, I. oxyrinchus of the Atlantic and the closely related I. glaucus of the Indo-Pacific. Mako sharks, also known as sharp-nosed mackerel sharks and (in Australia) blue pointers, range throughout tropical and temperate seas. They are streamlined and relatively slender, with pointed snouts, crescent-shaped tails, and long, slender teeth. They are blue gray, appearing deep blue in the water, with contrasting white bellies. They grow to a length and weight of about 4 metres (13 feet) and 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds). Mako sharks prey on fishes, such as herring, mackerel, and swordfish. They are outstanding game fish, prized for their fighting qualities and repeated leaps out of the water.