Sharks
Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
SaltwaterAlopiidaeVulnerable
About
The Common Thresher Shark is distinguished by its extraordinarily long upper tail lobe, which can be as long as the rest of the body. They use this tail like a whip to stun and herd prey fish before feeding.
- Average size
- 10-15 feet, 300-500 lbs
- Colors
- Dark blue-gray to brown on the dorsal side, fading to white on the underside with a distinct color break
- Diet
- Schooling fish such as mackerel, herring, bluefish, and squid
- Region
- Worldwide in temperate and tropical oceans. In the US, found along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, particularly popular with anglers off Southern California and the Northeast