Thresher shark  (Alopias vulpinus)

Description

With their enormous, curving upper lobe of the tail fin, which can be as long as the body, thresher sharks are one of the most instantly recognisable of all sharks (2). This slender, whip-like tail can be a deadly weapon, used to herd, stun and kill the thresher shark’s prey (3). The body is blue-grey to dark grey or blackish on top, with silvery or coppery sides and white undersides (2). The pectoral fins are curved and taper to a point, and the snout is short and pointed (2). The eyes and jaws are relatively small (2), but the thresher shark’s sharp teeth are efficient at capturing slippery prey (3). This thresher shark can be distinguished from other threshers by the position of the first dorsal fin which has its leading edge situated above the trailing edge of the pectoral fins (3).

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