Pelagic thresher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pelagic thresher
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Lamniformes Family: Alopiidae Genus: Alopias Species: A. pelagicus
Binomial name
Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935
Range of pelagic thresher shark (in blue)

The pelagic thresher, Alopias pelagicus, is a thresher shark of the genus Alopias, found in tropical oceans, at depths down to 500 m.

Contents 1 Reproduction and growth 2 Habitat and diet 3 Conservation 4 References

[edit] Reproduction and growth

The pelagic thresher reproduces via ovoviviparity, this is where the embryo is nourished in the yolk sac, in later development the unborn shark is feed on ovulated eggs, a process known as oophagy. At birth the young measure around 5.2 to 6.2 ft. The gestation period is unknown. The average size of the pelagic is 10 ft and a weight of 153 lb. Males reach maturity at 7 or 8 years of age, while females reach maturity at 8 or 9 years of age. In the wild the pelagic thresher can live for approximately 16 years.

[edit] Habitat and diet

The pelagic thresher prefers open ocean where they can be found from the surface to depths of around 492 ft. They are abundant of the north-east coast of Taiwan and North American waters around California and Mexico. Their full distribution is unknown due to confusion with the long-tailed thresher, Alopias vulpinus.

The pelagic thresher's preferred food are herring, flying fish and pelagic squid. They use their extremely long upper caudal fin in a whip-like fashion to stun their prey.

[edit] Conservation

They are currently being exploited by the fishing industry and are classed as vulnerable, but they are not yet a protected species. It was first assessed by the IUCN in 2007, gaining a vulnerable status.^[1]

[edit] References

• Shark Attack Survivors Shark Attack Education and Prevention