common common known names atlantic big eye fox shark green whip tailed shark shark largest species shark family reaching length half length consists elongated upper lobe caudal fin streamlined body short pointed snout sized eyes common resembles confused distinguished species white belly extending band bases pectoral fins common distributed worldwide tropical temperate waters prefers cooler temperatures found close shore open ocean surface depth migratory spends summers lower latitudes long tail common source tales history whip like fashion deliver blows prey species feeds mainly small schooling forage fishes fast strong swimmer known leap clear water possesses adaptations allow maintain internal body temperature warmer surrounding sea water common viviparous mode reproduction embryos feed undeveloped eggs mother females typically birth pups time following gestation period months despite size common dangerous humans relatively small teeth disposition highly valued commercial meat fins hide liver oil large numbers taken fisheries range shark recreational exceptional fight offers hook line common low rate reproduction withstand heavy fishing pressure long case point rapid collapse shark fishery california 1980s commercial exploitation increasing parts world assessed species vulnerable taxonomy phylogeny scientific description common written french naturalist des nature described shark caught sicily later authors recognized genus valid common scientific specific epithet derived latin meaning fox older literature species given incorrectly fox shark earliest known english species rooted classical antiquity belief especially mid-19th century fox superseded referencing shark like use tail species known simply shark introduced common differentiate known common names including atlantic green long tailed shark sea sea fox shark shark morphological analyses agreed common basal clade formed closest relative species family fourth shark species baja california reported evidence existence fourth species confirmed sources description common fairly robust shark torpedo shaped trunk short broad head dorsal profile head curves evenly pointed conical snout eyes moderately large lack membranes small mouth arched unlike sharks furrows corners upper lower tooth rows teeth small triangular smooth edged lacking lateral pairs gill slits short fourth fifth pairs located pectoral fin bases long shaped pectoral fins narrowly pointed tips dorsal fin tall positioned slightly closer pectoral fins pelvic fins pelvic fins large dorsal fin bear long thin males second dorsal anal fins tiny positioned ahead crescent shaped caudal upper lower origins caudal fin upper caudal fin lobe enormously elongated characteristic measuring long rest shark thin gently curving lobe held steep upward angle notch trailing margin near tip skin covered small overlapping dermal denticles horizontal ridges marginal teeth species metallic brown gray bluish flanks underside white extends pectoral pelvic fin bases pattern contrast colored fins meeting line dorsal ventral coloration irregular white spot tips pectoral fins common largest shark species commonly reaching long weight confirmed length record shark maximum possible length heaviest individual record female weighed distribution range common encompasses tropical cold temperate waters worldwide western atlantic found newfoundland gulf_of_mexico rare south new_england venezuela argentina eastern atlantic reported north_sea british isles including azores mediterranean south_africa species known india japan korea southeastern china sumatra eastern australia new_zealand occurs number pacific islands including hawaiian islands eastern pacific recorded british_columbia chile including common migratory moving higher latitudes following warm water masses eastern pacific males travel females reaching far late summer early fall juveniles tend remain warm nursery areas appear separate populations different life history characteristics eastern pacific western indian_ocean possibly species known movements northwestern indian_ocean males females location depth season january analysis mitochondrial dna revealed substantial regional genetic variation common oceans support idea despite high mobile sharks different areas rarely habitat common inhabitants continental waters open ocean tend abundant proximity land particularly juveniles frequent near coastal habitats bays individuals encountered near surface species recorded depth biology ecology common active strong swimmers reports completely water like fast swimming sharks family common strip red muscle flank able contract efficiently long periods time addition slow muscles centrally located bodies blood vessel exchange system called wonderful net allowing generate retain body heat temperature inside red muscles common averages ambient significant individual variation unlike common lacks protect eyes brain temperature changes immature common fall prey larger sharks aside observations killer feeding common new_zealand adults known natural predators parasites documented common include usual host nemesis feeding long upper tail fin lobe common strike prey common diet composed bony fishes small schooling forage fish herring striking sharks compact schools prey swimming water tail pairs small groups known large solitary fishes squid invertebrates california common feed northern pacific pacific pacific market squid red crab important food items sharks concentrate prey species cold water years productive warmer periods numerous accounts common long upper tail fins prey tails presumably striking bait july shark reported seeing shark use tail flip prey fish mouth fish missed thrown considerable distance april noted observed shark pursuing california pier shark overtook small fish swung tail water like confusing speed severely injuring target winter irish claimed seen shark dublin bay use tail strike wounded probably great northern account subsequently disputed authorities asserted tail rigid muscular effect blow life history like sharks common viviparous birth litters rarely pups eastern pacific seven pups believed reproduce range known nursery area breeding occurs summer usually july august occurs march june following gestation period months developing embryos feeding eggs mother teeth small embryos like non functional covered soft tissues embryos mature series teeth progressively like adults shape remain depressed hidden shortly birth newborn pups usually measure long weigh depending size mother juveniles grow year adults grow year size maturation appears vary populations eastern males mature years old females seven years old known live years age maximum lifespan estimated years human interactions large shark capable inflicting injury merits respect common poses little danger humans divers report shy difficult approach underwater lists single provoked attack shark attacks boats probably incidental individuals fighting capture report common acting aggressively new_zealand famed big game book sharks recounted tale fisherman carolinas boat examine large hooked caudal fin shark estimated long head supposedly fell water recovered account considered highly authors commercial fishing common widely caught offshore fisheries especially northwestern indian_ocean western central eastern pacific north_atlantic participating countries include ussr japan taiwan spain united_states brazil mexico meat highly prized human consumption cooked dried smoked addition skin leather liver oil processed fins shark fin soup reported worldwide common metric tons united_states drift fishery common developed southern california beginning vessels experimenting larger sized years fleet increased vessels fishery peaked vessels landed metric tons common population rapidly collapsed landings decreasing metric tons year late 1980s larger size classes disappearing population common taken commercially united_states coming pacific atlantic largest catches remain california oregon fishery shifted focus valuable small numbers pacific taken small atlantic primarily taken meant recreational fishing common regarded sports strongest fighting sharks alongside shark ranked game fish pursued rod reel california south_africa called sharks pound pound harder fish whip fishing common similar recommended equipment rod big game reel holding line ideal method deep allowing drift conservation shark species rapid collapse generations prompted concerns species areas fishery data seldom reported aspects life history population structure little known addition continued fishing pressure common taken gear fish traps considered nets united_states manages common fisheries regulations commercial trip limits recreational minimum sizes retention limits shark illegal federal law atlantic common fishery regulated highly migratory species management division consolidated atlantic highly migratory species hms fishery management plan pacific common fishery regulated west coast fisheries highly migratory species hms 1990s common stocks california fishery fleet limited boats restrictions placed season operation range landings evidence california recovering potential population growth rate estimated year historical perceptions greek philosopher aristotle bce wrote earliest observations common claimed hooked freeing biting fishing lines protected young clever behaviors borne science led ancient greeks meaning fox modern scientific based repeated myth common cooperate attack version events shark circles whale beating sea tail allowing vulnerable spot alternate account positions beneath whale leaps water lands whale authors describe cutting huge whale tail known feed possess story arisen tall dorsal fins killer attack large shark tails bills found embedded blue fin likely accidents fast moving fish sharks exhibit aforementioned behaviors independent
Common thresher