Blue Shark: Discover The All Characteristics
The Blue Shark prefers to inhabit deep regions with subtropical, tropical and temperate waters.
The animal has the habit of inhabiting places with a depth of up to 350 m.
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| Blue Shark: Discover The All Characteristics |
In addition, it is possible to see some individuals swimming close to the shore at night.
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Classification:
- Scientific name – Prionace glauca;
- Family – Carcharhinidae.
Blue shark characteristics
The Blue Shark was listed in 1758 and also goes by the common name “tintureira”.
The species has an elongated body, as well as large pectoral fins.
In its mouth there are triangular, serrated, pointed teeth, which are curved in the upper jaw and distributed in rows.
As far as color is concerned, understand that the species has a black or dark blue back, a tone that lightens when it reaches the side of the body.
Thus, the belly has a white color and the tips of the fins are black.
Sharks have a size that varies according to sex, that is, females are between 2.2 and 3.3 m when they are adults, while males are 1.82 to 2.82 m.
In this way, the largest fish reach 3.8 m in length.
As for weight, females are from 93 to 182 kg and males from 27 to 55 kg.
In addition, a relevant feature would be the following:
The blue shark is ectothermic.
This means that fish have the ability to maintain a constant temperature without external factors hitting it.
The feature is possible thanks to the shark’s metabolism that is used to generate heat.
Finally, individuals have a keen sense of smell and life expectancy would be 20 years.
Blue shark reproduction
One of the main points about Blue Shark breeding would be that the female has the ability to give birth to 135 pups at once.
The gestation period is 9 to 12 months and they are sexually mature at 5 to 6 years of age.
Males mature at about 5 years.
In fact, at the time of mating the males bite the females, which means that, throughout their lives, they develop a skin three times thicker.
Food
At the beginning of its life, the Blue Shark can eat squid and small fish.
From development, the animal begins to capture larger prey.
In this sense, its behavior would be opportunistic, which makes it similar to species such as the oceanic whitetip.
Both species pose dangers to castaways and divers because they follow ships in order to feed on the debris.
As a result, sharks form large groups for migration and also eat small dogfish, crabs, crustaceans, red hake, mackerel, silver hake, herring, grouper and cod.
In fact, it has a voracious behavior and can feed on the corpses of mammals that reach the sea.
The bodies of seabirds are also consumed.
Curiosities
One of the main curiosities about the Blue Shark would be its migration habit.
Generally speaking, fish have the ability to travel up to 5,500 kilometers and the trip is usually done in large groups.
Groups can be divided by gender and size, as they use a clock pattern system.
With this, the fish travel across the Atlantic, from New England to South America.
That is, some studies that were done in the Atlantic, indicate that the migration pattern would be clockwise within the prevailing currents.
But be aware that the species prefers to swim alone, especially when it does not migrate and can move very quickly.
Where to find the Blue Shark
The Blue Shark can be seen in deep areas of the oceans and also in tropical and temperate waters.
When considering temperate waters, sharks are close to shore and can be seen by divers.
On the other hand, they are located in deeper regions of tropical waters.
Therefore, understand that the fish has a preference for cold waters, that is, places with a temperature of 6 or 7 ºC.
But, they are also able to tolerate temperatures as high as 21ºC.
And the northern end of the habitat reaches Norway, as well as the southern end reaches Chile.
Is the species threatened?
Despite not being in danger of extinction, the Blue Shark is considered an endangered species.
Therefore, the activities that threaten the fish would be commercial and sport fishing.
The type of capture not only threatens this shark, but also other species.
And with regard to trade, fish is used in the production of food for humans and other animals.
The skin would be used to make leather and the liver would be used for food supplements.
Another worrying point would be the aquatic predators that feed on the blue shark’s pups.
There are several predators, including larger and totally voracious species of sharks.
Many studies indicate that the population has declined by 50 to 70% in the North Atlantic Ocean and 97% in the Mediterranean Sea, with overfishing being the main cause.
As a result, the Blue Shark is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
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