The common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is a species of “mackerel shark” (Lamniformes). This is the same group that contains such animals as the great white, mako, basking, and megamouth, however the thresher is in a different family & genus. This shark has a distinctive elongated upper tail, which it uses for hunting fish & squid. It is a mostly nocturnal, non-aggressive shark that is a very strong swimmer and can even leap out of the water. The common thresher can grow up to 20 feet long.
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Enchanted Learning
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Fisheries Resources Division
ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research