The gray-blue shark is also known as mako, as well as mackerel, bonito. Some people call her Black-snout. In addition, this species also has subspecies, such as the great white, Pacific and Atlantic shark.
Long Shark
In the middle of the last century, another species was described. This is a long-shark shark, which is a relative of the usual gray-blue.
There is only one difference between these types - the structure of the pectoral fins.
This species has very long fins. They significantly exceed the width, which is very similar to the wings. The shark is gray-blue, long fin in the same range with its relatives. It is believed that this particular one is a descendant of ancient sharks, which were called Isurus Hastilus.
This species was supposed to have a length of up to six meters, and weight - three thousand kilograms. It is believed that this type lived in the Cretaceous period.
Mako. Behavior of species
The gray-blue mako shark, photo of which is presented below, is an aggressive species. Such a shark is quite dangerous not only for the inhabitants of the sea, but also for humans. After all, she will attack indiscriminately on everything that she might consider to be prey. Such a shark is notorious among scuba divers and divers. After all, this species does not sort out prey during the hunt and often attacks divers. There are cases when a gray-blue shark during a fish hunt jumped into a fisherman’s boat and even caused harm to people.
This type of shark is most often found in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic and Indian. Preference is given to the waters of the tropical zone, where it is warm and does not storm. If the water temperature reaches sixteen degrees, then this shark can be found with difficulty. But more often than not, they tend to sail away to where the water is warmer. If mako is found in cold water, then only where the swordfish lives. After all, she is a favorite food for sharks.
Why is it called "mad"?
This predator tries to stay at a shallow depth, and if it goes deeper, then only 150 meters. Another nickname is the shark-mako - "mad". This is due to the fact that she is very curious and fast. Thanks to its elongated and streamlined body and the length of its muzzle, it develops a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour during hunting.
Few of the animals living on land can develop such a speed. But remember that there is resistance in water that is not on earth. During such a chase, a mako shark can jump out of the ocean to a height of six meters. To develop this speed this type helps not only streamlined body shape, but also a well-developed circulatory system. The fact that the muscles are covered with a large number of capillaries, which contribute to the heating of muscles and provoke their frequent reduction, as a result makes it possible to develop such a good speed. This ability is not for all species of sharks.
But, like everyone, to move quickly, she needs to replenish her energy supply with food. Of course, shark blue-gray food is required. This look is very gluttonous and therefore attacks everything that can be edible. And in the end, due to their curiosity and illegibility, these sharks attack people. Such attacks on humans have been recorded more than once, especially on those who swam far from the coast.
The shark is gray-blue. Description
This species differs from other sharks in that it has the shape of a tail fin in the form of a month, as well as short fins on the chest. In this case, the dorsal ones are quite different. The first one is large, and the second, near the tail, is much smaller.
The length of this individual can reach an average of 3.5 meters. But there are specimens that are up to four meters in length, and their weight exceeds 400 kilograms. Like every predator, there are teeth arranged in several rows. They are sharp as a knife blade and bent a little inward in order to hold their prey with a dead grip. The teeth of this individual can be seen even when the mouth is closed. Unlike the white shark, this one holds its prey, and does not tear it to pieces. The number of teeth on the lower and upper jaw is the same.
The head is proportional to the body of the fish; large eyes are located on it. Shark nostrils have special receptors in the form of grooves. They help this creature to quickly smell in the water and find the location of their prey or a wounded inhabitant of the sea. It is difficult for many predators to find food in the vast expanses of the ocean. But the gray-blue shark-mako copes with this task quickly.
By its color, this species of predator resembles a blue one. But only has a difference in its massiveness. On top of this predator has a blue and blue color, while closer to the stomach, the color changes to light - more gray or white. Like all cartilaginous ripples, so does the mako shark lack a swimming bladder, therefore, only by moving does it stay on the water.
Nutrition
This predator eats diversely, but if there is a choice, it prefers large fish that go astray. This may be mackerel, herring, mackerel, tuna and others. Do not deny yourself and treat yourself to octopuses. Can catch squids. And if a dead whale comes across, then the gray-blue shark, the photo of which you see in the article, will not deny yourself pleasure. It happens that it attacks even birds that swim on the surface of the water, and does not disdain the small inhabitants of sea waters. Therefore, it is clear why it is believed that the shark is not overindulging in food. But most of all, this predator loves to eat swordfish, as mentioned above. And people involved in fishing know that if a swordfish swims nearby, then a gray-blue shark can be seen nearby.
But when these two predators collide, you can see their struggle, in which the strongest wins. In the battle, both swordfish and sharks can die. But because of his preference to eat all living things, we can say that all sharks have better survival abilities.
Breeding
This species is propagated by egg production. Eggs that have been fertilized develop completely in the womb of the mother. Then she gives birth to perfectly formed small sharks. This species tends to eat its own kind, or rather, even in the womb of the mother, the strongest cubs can gobble up the weak or eggs that are behind in their development. As a result, a small number of newborn mako sharks are born. Basically there are about a dozen. Already in the first minutes of their new life, small sharks should take care of themselves on their own: get food, as well as worry about their safety. After all, such babies are easy prey for marine predators. It happens that the parents themselves can attack the cubs.
Enemies
But, like everyone has enemies, so this predator has creatures that he fears. Among such large swordfish (although they are the favorite food of the blue-gray shark). There are also other enemies, such as larger sharks of other species, crocodiles or killer whales, which are also endowed with the ability to develop greater speed and have collective attack skills.
"Friends"
But there are sea inhabitants who are “friends” with this ferocious predator. These include: pilots, fish sticking, fish cleaner (it accompanies a shark and helps get rid of skin parasites). Even on the body of the shark, you can find inhabitants such as capepods. They cling to the fins of a predator. Capepod crustaceans also clean the surface of fish skin.
Fishing
Shark fishing has not been conducted for a long time. But if a gray-blue herring shark comes across in the net, then they no longer let it go. After all, its meat is very tasty and valuable, especially this applies to the fins and liver.
Dangerous predator
This species is of great interest to fishermen-athletes. Since, when catching these individuals, the shark fights for its life to the last. This gives athletes a huge amount of emotions and the ability to compete with a ferocious predator.
But with such creatures one must always be careful. After all, they are dangerous even when they are on land. During transportation, the fish behaves calmly, but when someone comes close enough to her, then with a quick movement she can avenge herself. For example, to deprive a person of one of the limbs or even kill.
There are cases when this species of sharks swam close to the shore and attacked swimming people. Now one briefly tell. There is a known case when the Mako shark came very close to the shore and swam at a depth of only a meter. At the same time, one of the rescuers tried to shoot with a special gun with a harpoon. But the shark freed itself and ran ashore to take revenge on its offender.