WoRMS taxon details

Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810

105839 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:105839)

accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
Rafinesque, C. S. (1810). Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della sicilia, con varie osservazioni sopra i medisimi. <em>Per le stampe di Sanfilippo: Palermo, Italy.</em> Part 1 involves fishes, pp. [i-iv] 3-69 [70 blank], Part 2 with slightly different title, pp. ia-iva + 71-105 [106 blank]). Pls. 1-20., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47825964
page(s): 12 [details] OpenAccess publication
Lectotype  (of Oxyrhina glauca Müller & Henle, 1839)...   Type locality contained in Sicily  
type locality contained in Sicily [details]
Note Type species of genus. Genus Isurus in...  
Unreviewed
Type species Type species of genus. Genus Isurus in separate family Isuridae in <143> [details]
Description An aggressive and dangerous shark with fearsome-looking jaws. Found from the surface to at least 152 m. One of the most...  
Description An aggressive and dangerous shark with fearsome-looking jaws. Found from the surface to at least 152 m. One of the most active species; when hooked on a fishing line may leap out of the water and has been reported to attack boats. Believed to be the fastest swimming shark (Ref. 9988). Found in coastal and oceanic waters. Prefers temperatures above 16°C (Ref. 9988). Feeds on schools of fish, small sharks, and swordfish (Ref. 5213). Utilized fresh, dried/salted, smoked and frozen; eaten broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Valued for its fine quality meat as well as its fins and skin. Jaws and teeth are also sold as ornaments and trophies (Ref. 9988). [details]

Distribution Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil  
Distribution Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2026). FishBase. Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105839 on 2026-07-13
Date
action
by
2004-12-21 15:54:05Z
created
2008-01-15 17:27:08Z
changed

Creative Commons License The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License


Nomenclature

original description Rafinesque, C. S. (1810). Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della sicilia, con varie osservazioni sopra i medisimi. <em>Per le stampe di Sanfilippo: Palermo, Italy.</em> Part 1 involves fishes, pp. [i-iv] 3-69 [70 blank], Part 2 with slightly different title, pp. ia-iva + 71-105 [106 blank]). Pls. 1-20., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47825964
page(s): 12 [details] OpenAccess publication

original description (of Isurus africanus Smith, 1957) Smith, J. L. B. (1957). Sharks of the genus Isurus Rafinesque, 1810. <em>Ichthyological Bulletin, Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University.</em> 6: 91-96, Pl. 1. [details] 

original description (of Isurus mako Whitley, 1929) Whitley, G. P. (1929). Studies in ichthyology. No. 3. <em>Records of the Australian Museum.</em> v. 17 (no. 3): 101-143, Pls. 30-34. [details] 

original description (of Lamna guentheri Murray, 1884) Murray, J. A. (1884). A contribution to the knowledge of the marine fauna of Kurrachee. <em>Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 5.</em> 13(77): 348-352., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27554502#page/362/mode/1up [details] 

original description (of Lamna huidobrii Philippi, 1887) Philippi, R. A. (1887). Historia natural. — Sobre los tiburones y algunos otros peces de Chile. [Plus:] Apendice sobre el peje-espada, peje-aguja, peje-perro i vieja negra. <em>Anales de la Universidad de Chile Sec.</em> 1, v. 71: 535-574, Pls. 1-8., available online at https://anales.uchile.cl/index.php/ANUC/article/view/23750/25073 [details] 

original description (of Lamna latro Owen, 1853) Owen, R. (1853). Descriptive catalogue of the osteological series contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Vol. 1. Pisces, Reptilia, Aves, Marsupialia. London. 350 pp. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19777065#page/7/mode/1up [details] 

original description (of Lamna oxyrhina Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1835) Agassiz, L. (1833-1843). Recherches sur les poissons fossiles. Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 5 vols. with atlas. , available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4275 [details] 

original description (of Carcharias tigris Atwood, 1869) Atwood, N. E. (1869). Description of a shark, Carcharias tigris Atwood. <em>Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History.</em> 12 (1868-1869): 268-269. [details] OpenAccess publication

original description (of Squalus cepedii Lesson, 1831) Lesson, R. P. (1829-31). Poissons. <em>In: L. I. Duperrey. Voyage autour du monde, ..., sur la corvette de La Majesté La Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825..., Zoologie. Zool.</em> v. 2 (pt 1): 66-238, Atlas: Pls. 1-38. [Here dated according to Cretella 2010 [ref. 34236]. Text p. 66-238 (13 Oct. 1931); Atlas: Pls. 2, 19 (4 Apr. 1829), 4, 12, 18 (28 Feb. 1829), 3, 38 (30 May 1829), 1, 22, 35 (4 July 1829), 36 (3 Apr. 1830), 23, 26 (7 Mar 1831), 25, 27, 33, 37 (29 May 1931), 5, 6, 13, 16 (15 June 1831), 20, 24, 28 (25 July 1831), 11, 14, 31, 34 (5 Sept. 1831), 7, 29, 30, 32 (13 Oct. 1831), 8, 15, 21 (15 Nov. 1831), 9, 10 (22 Dec. 1831), 9, 10 (22 Dec. 1831).]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38663556#page/76/mode/1up [details] 

original description (of Isuropsis dekayi Gill, 1862) Gill, T. (1862). Squalorum Generum Novorum Descriptiones Diagnosticæ. <em>Annals of The Lyceum of Natural History of New York.</em> 7(1): 409-413., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16227878#page/441/mode/1up [details] 

original description (of Oxyrhina gomphodon Müller & Henle, 1839) Müller, J.; Henle, F. G. J. (1838-1841). Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. <em>Veit und Comp., Berlin.</em> i-xxii + 1-200, 60 pls. [Pp. 1-28 published in 1838, reset pp. 27-28, 29-102 in 1839, i-xxii + 103-200 in 1841. Please note the different authors responsible for some species.]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6352890#page/39/mode/1up [details] 

original description (of Oxyrhina glauca Müller & Henle, 1839) Müller, J.; Henle, F. G. J. (1838-1841). Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. <em>Veit und Comp., Berlin.</em> i-xxii + 1-200, 60 pls. [Pp. 1-28 published in 1838, reset pp. 27-28, 29-102 in 1839, i-xxii + 103-200 in 1841. Please note the different authors responsible for some species.]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6352890#page/39/mode/1up [details] 

basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details] 

Ecology

ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details] OpenAccess publication

Other

context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details] 

context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details] 

context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details] 

additional source Collette, B. B., ; Klein-MacPhee, G. (2002). Bigelow and Schroeder's Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. <em>Smithsonian Institution Press.</em> 1-748. [details] 

additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details] 

additional source Compagno, L.J.V. (2001). Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). <em>FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes.</em> No. 1, Vol. 2. Rome, FAO. 269p. [details] 

additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details] 

additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors  PDF available [request]

additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2026). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details] 

additional source Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds). (2026). ECoF. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. <em>California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.</em> Electronic version accessed dd mmm 2026., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details] 

 
 Present  Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio   Inaccurate  Introduced: alien  Containing type locality 
   

Unreviewed
Description An aggressive and dangerous shark with fearsome-looking jaws. Found from the surface to at least 152 m. One of the most active species; when hooked on a fishing line may leap out of the water and has been reported to attack boats. Believed to be the fastest swimming shark (Ref. 9988). Found in coastal and oceanic waters. Prefers temperatures above 16°C (Ref. 9988). Feeds on schools of fish, small sharks, and swordfish (Ref. 5213). Utilized fresh, dried/salted, smoked and frozen; eaten broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Valued for its fine quality meat as well as its fins and skin. Jaws and teeth are also sold as ornaments and trophies (Ref. 9988). [details]

Diet Feeds on fishes, including mackerels, tunas, and swordfish  [details]

Distribution Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil [details]

Habitat nektonic [details]

Habitat Usually found in surface waters, down to about 150m. [details]

Importance Social - Commercial, flesh is eaten by humans, gamefish  [details]

Type species Type species of genus. Genus Isurus in separate family Isuridae in <143> [details]
    Definitions

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LanguageName 
Afrikaans moromambone  [details]
Albanian peshkaqen turishkurtërpeshkaqen tonil  [details]
Catalan solraig  [details]
Danish makrelhaj  [details]
Dutch spitsneushaaimakreelhaaikortvinmakreelhaaikortvin makreelhaai  [details]
English snapper sharkshortfin makoshort finned mako sharksharp-nosed mackerel sharksharpnose makosharp nosedporpoise sharkPacific mako sharkPacific bonito sharkMediterranean mackerel sharkmako sharkmakomackerel sharkmackerel porbeaglebonito sharkblue sharkblue porpoise sharkblue pointerAtlantic mako shark  [details]
French taupe bleuetaupe bleurequin-taupe bleumako à nageoires courtes  [details]
German MakrelenhaiKurzflossen-Mako  [details]
Hebrew עמלץ כחול  [details]
Italian squalo makopiscicanipisci tunnuossirina dello spallanzanimeantocani di maricane di mare di Messinacagnia  [details]
Japanese アオザメmorozameawozameaozame  [details]
Lithuanian atlantinis pilkšvasis ryklys  [details]
Maori mako  [details]
Modern Greek (1453-) ΡυγχοκαρχαρίαςΟξύρρυγχος καρχαρίας  [details]
Norwegian makrellhai  [details]
Norwegian Bokmål makrellhai  [details]
Norwegian Nynorsk makrellhai  [details]
Polish rekin ostronosyostronos atlantycki  [details]
Portuguese rinquimmarrajo criollomarrachoanequin barbatana curtaanequin  [details]
Russian чёрнорылая акуласеро-голубая акуламакрелевая акулаКороткоперый макоакула мако  [details]
Spanish tiburónsobratgmarraquetmarrajo dientusomarrajomakoludia marracodientuso azuldentudoalecrín  [details]
Swedish makrillhaj  [details]
Tamil ganumu sorrah  [details]
Turkish mako kopekbaligidikburun canavar  [details]
Ukrainian сіро-блакитна акулаАкула-макоАкула сіро-блакитна  [details]