Species profile
Longfin Mako Shark
Isurus paucus
At a glance
Longfin Mako Shark (Isurus paucus) is an IUCN Endangered invertebrate regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Listed under MSA and CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Its pectoral fins are nearly as long as its head — the clearest visual distinction from the shortfin mako.
- An open-ocean predator inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters around the globe.
- Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to slow reproduction and heavy bycatch mortality.
- Like all lamnid sharks, it is endothermic and can maintain body temperatures above the surrounding seawater.
- Far rarer and less studied than the shortfin mako, with relatively few confirmed records worldwide.
Jurisdictions with rules for Longfin Mako Shark
Protected status
- Atlantic HMS prohibited — must release unharmed.
- CITES Appendix II (Longfin mako). CoP18 (2019).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus) is a species of mackerel shark in the family Lamnidae, with a probable worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical waters. An uncommon species, it is typically lumped together under the name "mako" with its better-known relative, the shortfin mako shark (I. oxyrinchus). The longfin mako is a pelagic species found in moderately deep water, having been…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Longfin Mako Shark article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other invertebrates on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.