Mako Shark Pups Feed on Unfertilized Eggs Before They're Born

If the ocean had a drag race, the mako shark would leave the competition in its bubbly wake.

Clocking in at top speeds around 45 mph (72 km/h), the shortfin mako shark isn't just fast; it's the fastest shark species on the planet. With its sleek build and powerful tail, this predator zips through tropical and temperate waters across the globe.

It's a pelagic species, meaning it prefers the open ocean, and it's considered highly migratory, sometimes traveling across entire oceans.

2 Mako Shark Species

There are two known species in the genus Isurus: the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the longfin mako.

The shortfin, also known as the blue pointer or bonito shark, is the more commonly seen and studied of the two.

What Do Mako Sharks Look Like?

Shortfin makos are members of the mackerel shark family, closely related to great whites and porbeagle sharks. Mako teeth are distinctive, with lateral cusps that help them latch onto slippery prey.

Makos have pointed snouts, large eyes, and equal-sized upper and lower tail lobes — a telltale trait of fast-moving pelagic fishes.

Their coloration helps them blend in with the surrounding water: metallic blue on top, white ventrally.

Self-regulating Sharks

These sharks are endothermic, meaning they can regulate their body temperature to stay warmer than the surrounding water — a rare trait among sharks.

It gives them an edge when chasing fast prey like swordfish, tuna, bony fish and even other sharks.

Where Do Mako Sharks Live?

Shortfin makos are primarily found offshore in tropical and temperate waters, including the Atlantic Ocean, central Pacific, and even New Zealand waters. Juvenile mako sharks often stay closer to the continental shelf, but adults are true wanderers.

While they're known to frequent areas around the Caribbean Sea, sightings are extremely rare due to their preference for the open ocean.

Their range is so broad that they show up in international shark research studies and environmental biology journals, including work from the Canadian Journal of Zoology.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Mako sharks give birth to live young, but with a twist: They're ovoviviparous.

That means embryos develop inside eggs within the mother's body, and the unfertilized eggs serve as nourishment for the growing pups. This intrauterine feeding behavior, called oophagy, results in strong, competitive juveniles.

The gestation period can last over a year, and sexual maturity varies depending on sex and region. Larger specimens can grow up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) and weigh over 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms), although most individuals are much smaller.

Conservation Challenges

Despite their speed and power, mako shark populations are under threat. As a highly migratory species, they often fall victim to longline fishing gear intended for other species.

Their fins are also sought after in the global fin trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now lists the shortfin mako as endangered.

Efforts are underway to protect this iconic species, including fishing bans and catch limits. Scientists are using satellite tagging and other tech to track mako movements and better understand their role in ocean ecosystems.

The mako may rule the sea as the peregrine falcon rules the sky, but even top-tier predators need a break from being hunted themselves.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.