Marine Life

Blue shark

Max. 3.8 m

Prionace glauca

The Prionace glauca is the widest-ranging chondrichthyian, but it is not very common in the Maldives. It is known to undertake long-distance migrations and show some degree of sexual segregation, with approximately 95% of blue sharks in Maldivian waters being male. This species is considered dangerous, as it has been involved in several attacks on people and boats.

Details

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size: Max. 7.4 m or more
color: Deep blue above, pale below.
order: Carcharhiniformes
family: Carcharhinidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/prionace-glauca.png
habitat and biology: This species is found in oceanic and epipelagic waters, from the surface to a depth of at least 220 m. It prefers cooler temperatures of 70-160°C, but can tolerate warmer waters. Its diet consists of bony fishes, small sharks, squids, pelagic crustaceans, and occasionally sea birds and carrion. It is viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta; the number of young per litter ranges from 4 to 135.
distinctive characters: A slender shark with a long snout and long, pointed pectorals, no spiracles, and a weak keel on either side of the caudal peduncle, with the base of the first dorsal fin closer to the pelvic fins than the pectoral origins, has been observed.