Pelagic thresher: Difference between revisions
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| regnum = [[Animalia]] |
| regnum = [[Animalia]] |
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| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[ |
| classis = [[Chondrichthyes]] |
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| subclassis = [[Elasmobranchii]] |
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| ordo = [[Lamniformes]] |
| ordo = [[Lamniformes]] |
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| familia = [[Alopiidae]] |
| familia = [[Alopiidae]] |
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Revision as of 16:16, 9 September 2006
| Pelagic thresher | |
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| Species: | A. pelagicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935
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Template:Sharksportal The pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus) is a thresher shark of the genus Alopias, found in tropical oceans, at depths down to 500 metres. It was first described in 1935 by Japanese ichthyologist Hiroshi Nakamura.
Reproduction and growth
The pelagic thresher reproduces via ovoviviparity, this is where the embryo is nourished in the yolk sac, in later development the unborn shark is feed on ovulated eggs a process known as oophagy. At birth the young measure around 5.2-6.2 feet. The gestation period is unknown. The average size of the pelagic is 10 feet and a weight of 153 lb. Males reach maturity at between 7-8 years of age, while females reach maturity between 8-9 years of age. In the wild the pelagic thresher can live for approximately 16 years.
Habitat and diet
The pelagic thresher prefers open ocean where they can be found from the surface to depths of around 492 feet. They are abundant of the North-East coast of Taiwan and North American waters around California and Mexico. Their full distribution is unknown due to confusion with the long-tailed thresher (Alopias vulpinus). The pelagic thresher's prefered food are herring, flying fish and pelagic squid. They use their extremely long upper caudal fin in a whip-like fashion to stun their prey.
Conservation
Currently being exploited by the fishing industry and is classed as vunerable, but is not yet a protected species.