Pelagic Thresher Shark | Oceana
Home / Pelagic Thresher Shark

Marine Life Encyclopedia

Sharks & Rays

Pelagic Thresher Shark

Alopias pelagicus

Distribution

Tropical to temperate latitudes of the Pacific and Indian oceans

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT

Coastal to open ocean (pelagic)

FEEDING HABITS

Active predator

TAXONOMY

Class Chondrichthyes, Order Lamniformes (mackerel sharks and relatives), Family Alopiidae (thresher sharks)

With their long, whip-like tails, thresher sharks are one of the most easily recognized species of sharks.  Pelagic thresher sharks are the smallest of the three species of thresher sharks, averaging about 10 feet (3 m)long. They are highly migratory, inhabiting the pelagic waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, including off the coast of South Africa, western Australia, Taiwan, and California.

Like most sharks, pelagic thresher sharks are mainly solitary. They feed primarily on fish, such as herrings and mackerels, but will also eat pelagic squid. Pelagic threshers are thought to use the elongated lobe of their caudal fin to slap the water and stun schooling fish, like sardines, while they hunt. Like other species of thresher sharks, these threshers also sometimes use their extremely long tail to corral a school of prey into a tight ball, making it easier to catch and eat.

Although they are the smallest species of thresher shark, pelagic threshers reach sexual maturity later than the rest of their family, around 7 – 13 years old.  Females give birth to live pups, typically with an annual litter of around 2. These pups are between 5.2 and 6.2 feet (1.6 and 1.9 m) long at birth. This relatively low reproductive rate is one of the reasons that pelagic threshers are currently classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red list. Though adult thresher sharks have no natural predators, they do face serious human-made threats, primary fishing pressure from both targeted fishing and bycatch. The demand for their meat and fins puts pelagic thresher sharks at serious risk of extinction, and their population has decreased by 50-79% over the last three generations.

Get Involved

Donate Today

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean.

Donate Now

TAKE ACTION NOW

Support policy change for the oceans

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

Sign Now

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

Shop Today

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

Learn More

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: