Blue shark

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Blue shark

The blue shark has long and slender pectoral fins with dusky tips. The first dorsal fin is set well behind the pectoral fins and the upper lobe of the tail fin is much longer than the lower lobe.
A map showing the distribution of the blue shark, which is found mostly offshore around Australia, with the exception of the Gulf of Carpentaria and an area north of the Northern Territory

Distribution of the blue shark.

The upper teeth of the blue shark are narrowly triangular, oblique, finely serrated and slightly hook-shaped
The upper teeth are narrowly traingular, oblique, finely serrated and slightly hook-shaped.
Picture: Glenn and Heidi Reed
(www.tellmewhereonearth.com)

Scientific name

Prionace glauca. CAAB code: 37 018004
Family

Whaler
Other names

Blue whaler, great blue shark, blue pointer.
Frequent misidentifications

Shortfin mako (I. oxyrinchus).
Description
  • large very slender whaler
  • bright indigo-blue on the upper surface and white underneath
  • similar in colour to I. oxyrinchus but with the upper caudal fin much longer than the lower.
Distribution

Mostly offshore.
Size

35 to at least 380 cm.
Fisheries

Line fisheries.

Further information

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Page maintained by Cassie France
Last reviewed 02 March 2009

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