Mako Shark Facts and Information

Mako Shark Facts

Shortfin Mako Shark - Photographed by: Mark Conlin.

Shortfin Mako Shark. Photo by Mark Conlin, SWFSC Large Pelagics Program. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Fast Facts about Mako Sharks

Tagged Shortfin Mako Shark - Photographed by: Mark Conlin.

Tagged Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Credit: Mark Conlin, SWFSC Large Pelagics Program [Pubilc Domain].

Name:Isurus oxyrynchus (Shortfin Mako) and Isurus paucus (Longfin Mako)
The genus name Isurus comes from the greek words meaning "Equal Tail"
The species name oxyrynchus comes from the greek words meaning "Sharp Nose"
The species name paucus comes from the latin word meaning "Few"

Taxonomy:
Order: Lamniformes - Family: Lamnidae - Genus: Isurus - Species: oxyrinchus (shortfin mako), paucus (longfin mako)

Age: Paleocene to Recent
The Isurus genus first appears in the Paleocene. By the Miocene it branches into the modern Mako sharks and the White Sharks.

Distribution: Nearly Global
The Shortfin Mako shark has a global distribution in offshore temperate and tropical waters.

The Longfin Mako shark is less common and less is known about them. However, they have a nearly global distribution in offshore tropical and semitropical waters.

Body Size:
2.5 - 4.2 m (8 - 13 feet) Shortfin Makos are slightly smaller than Longfin makos. The largest Longfin mako accurately measured had a length of 13.7 feet.

Diet: Fish
The diet of a Mako shark is almost entirely fish, smaller sharks, and sometimes squid.
They have very long and thin teeth, ideal for grasping onto fish.

Physical Appearance:
Mako sharks have a dark blue dorsal surface and a white underbelly. They are very slim and hydrodynamic.
The Longfin mako looks very similar to the Shortfin mako but has larger fins and eyes.

Conservation Status:
The IUCN lists Mako sharks as Vulnerable.

Fun Facts:

Speed Racer
Mako sharks are the fastest of all sharks. A Shortfin mako has been reliably clocked at 31 mph (50 Km/hr), and is thought to achieve even faster bursts of speed! For comparison, an Olympic swimmer can swim at speeds around 5 mph.

High Jump
Shortfin Mako sharks are known to jump out of the water. They can leap to incredible heights of over 30 feet!

Migratory? Based on studies of tagged individuals, Shortfin makos may migrate to warmer waters in the winter.

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Mako Shark Facts - The Isurus Genus - The Details

Tagged Shortfin Mako Shark off Catalina Island.

Shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus, off Catalina Island, California, eastern Pacific Ocean. Credit: jidanchaomian via CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Isurus genus (Rafinesque, 1810)

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 the FMNH, the average adult size is around 10 feet (3.2 m). Because of their size and speed, Makos are a popular sport fish.

Shortfin Mako Sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus). Credit: Mark Conlin, SWFSC Large Pelagics Program. [Public Domain]

Mako Shark Evolution
General Overview

These are sample early mako shark teeth - Isurolamna inflata - from the Paleocene Aquia formation. The fossils and photos are used by permission of Bill Heim.

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 appear in the fossil record as the genus Isurolamna in the Paleocene possibly around 60 million years ago. In the Eocene, around 55 million years ago, the Isurus praecurser (Macrorhizodus praecursor) genus branches from the makos. This "Macrorhizodus" genus continues to diversify throughout the fossil record. The teeth broaden over time and eventually branch into the White Sharks (Cosmopolitodus and Carcharodon). To learn about White Shark Evolution, head to the Prehistoric White Shark Page.

Some time in the late Oligocene, modern looking forms of mako sharks appear. By the Miocene, there are at least two species of Mako sharks:

Isurus oxyrinchus aka Isurus desori (Shortfin Mako)

Isurus paucus aka Isurus retroflexus (Longfin Mako)

What about Isurus escheri, the serrated mako? Based on an associated skeleton from Europe, the escheri species appears to be more closely related to the Cosmopolitodus and Carcharodon generas than the Isurus genera. Although more closely related to the White Sharks, it still had some differences, and was given the genus Carcharomodus (Kriwet et al, 2015). To learn about C. escheri, including images, go to the Prehistoric White Shark Page.

It's important to note that research on mako evolution is far from complete. For example, some researchers consider I. retroflexus and/or I. desori to be separate species. The above is to be taken as a general overview of current research.

I would like to give special thanks to Bill Heim for clarifying some aspects of Mako shark evolution and providing fossils for this article.

Reference:

Jurgen Kriwet, Heike Mewis, and Oliver Hampe. (2015) A partial skeleton of a new lamniform mackerel shark from the Miocene of Europe. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 60 (4), 2015: 857-875 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4202/app.00066.2014

Isurus oxyrinchus tooth morphology

The wide, triangular teeth that are often called "makos" by amateur fossil collectors are actually extinct White Sharks. If you are looking for information and 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, I oxyrinchus may be synonymous with I desori.

These teeth are also very similar to I. paucus, the other extant Mako shark. It is currently being debated wether or not some Isurus tooth forms are of I paucus. If I paucus is to be differentiated from I oxyrinchus in the fossil specimens, the differences are very slight, and will not be discussed here.

I oxyrinchus upper teeth are have long, slender crowns. Their roots are long in the anterior section of the mouth and become more squarish as the teeth transition to laterals. Also the crowns of upper laterals tend to be broader than the upper anteriors.

Lower teeth also have long, slender crowns that have a lingual bend. The crowns however remain more peg-like as the teeth transition to laterals.

Below are two diagrams, one of an upper anterior tooth, and one of a lower anterior tooth.

Isurus oxyrinchus (mako) upper A2 shark tooth from the Pungo formation near Aurora, NC

Isurus oxyrinchus upper A2 shark tooth from the Pungo formation near Aurora, NC

Isurus oxyrinchus lower A3 shark tooth from the Calvert Cliffs of MD

Isurus oxyrinchus lower A3 shark tooth from the Calvert Cliffs of Maryland

Recommended Shark Books

Sharks of the World: A Complete Guide

Sharks of the World: A Complete Guide (Wild Nature Press)
Authors: Dr. David A. Ebert, Marc Dando, Dr. Sarah Fowler: 2021

Fully revised and updated, Sharks of the World is the ultimate reference guide for shark enthusiasts. Covering 536 species, it boasts vibrant illustrations, photos, and informative diagrams. The comprehensive guide incorporates the latest taxonomic revisions and offers insights into shark biology, ecology, and conservation. A must-have for any shark enthusiast.

101 American Fossil Sites You've Gotta See

101 American Fossil Sites You've Gotta See
Albert B Dickas, 2018

This is a great updated fossil sites book with at least one fossil site in each state. Each site is broken into 2 pages. One has detailed information, such as directions, GPS coordinates, formation information, etc... The other is dedicated to images of the site and the fossils found there. It also gives information on fossil 'viewing' sites such as dinosaur trackways, museums, and active excavations.
Plus, my fossil photos are peppered throughout this book!

Dinosauria and Prehistoric creatures: Ancient Sharks

Dinosauria and Prehistoric creatures: Ancient Sharks

Shetan Noir's paperback compilation of interviews with leading prehistoric shark experts, including Dr. Shimada, Kent, and Godfrey, offers diverse insights on an array of prehistoric shark topics like Helicoprion jaw structure. Despite minor formatting issues, the large-print book, over 100 pages with vibrant photos, provides a quick, fascinating read. Highly recommended for any prehistoric shark enthusiast. Plus I have a chapter in it!

High Quality Shark Teeth by Fossilera

Examples of Mako Shark Fossils

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.

Shortfin Mako Shark Tooth - Isurus oxyrinchus - Calvert Cliffs of Maryland

This beauty (a lower anterior) is as big as my North Carolina mako finds!
Left is the lingual view, right is the profile view. It is 2" in size and comes from the Calvert formation of Maryland.