DiscoverSpeciesSharks and rays
Longfin mako
Isurus paucus
- Usual depth98–5,250 m
- Water temperature19–30 °C
- Best monthsMay, July, and August
- How commonRare
About this species
The longfin mako shark is a species of mackerel shark in the family Lamnidae, with a probable worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical waters. An uncommon species, it is typically lumped together under the name "mako" with its better-known relative, the shortfin mako shark. The longfin mako is a pelagic species found in moderately deep water, having been reported to a depth of 220 m (720 ft). Growing to a maximum length of 4.3 m (14 ft), the slimmer build and long, broad pectoral fins of this shark suggest that it is a slower and less active swimmer than the shortfin mako.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Longfin mako shark”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 3 records
- March: 2 records
- April: 7 records
- May: 8 records
- June: 1 records
- July: 8 records
- August: 9 records
- September: 1 records
- October: 2 records
- November: 1 records
- December: 0 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 98–5,250 m · Deepest record: 5,250 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 19–30 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Longfin mako, Longfinned mako shark, Longfish mako, longfin mako, Longfin Mako, Longfin Mako Shark, longfinned mako shark, longfish mako
Names in 6 more languages
- German
- Langflossen-Mako
- Spanish
- dientuso prieto, mako aletón, marrajo carite, Marrajo carite, marrajo negro
- French
- Mako à longues nageoires, petite taupe, Petite taupe, petit requin-taupe, Petit requin taupe, Petit requin-taupe, Petite taupe, Mako à longues nageoires, petit taupe, taupe longue aile
- Japanese
- bake-aozame, Bakeaozame, バケアオザメ
- Thai
- ปลาฉลามปากมอม
- Simplified Chinese
- 煙仔沙, 長臂灰鯖鮫, 長臂鯖鯊, 馬加鯊
Other scientific names: Isurus alatus, Lamiostoma belyaevi
Similar species
Atlantic mako sharkIsurus oxyrinchus
Anchovy-eaterCarcharodon carcharias
(common) Atlantic mackerel sharkLamna nasus
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 303 open-data records from 1994 to 2018.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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