Thresher Shark
These are a very distinctive-looking shark, due to their huge tail. The Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus) is the smallest of the three species, growing to three metres in length. They are very rarely seen by divers, apart from a particular island in The Philippines, but only if you get up very early!
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Thresher Shark Alopias pelagicus
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| Scientific Rank | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Chordata (Chordates)
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| Class: |
Chondrichthyes: Cartilaginous fish
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| Order: | Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks) |
| Family: | Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks) |
| Genus: | Alopias (Thresher Sharks) |
| Species: | Alopias pelagicus |
| Size | |
| Average Size: | 3 metres |
Pelagic Thresher Sharks (Alopias pelagicus) are the smallest of the three species of Thresher Sharks. They can grow to a little over three metres in length, but half of this is their tail, which is what makes them such an interesting species. Thresher Sharks use theor tails to strike into a school of fish, stunning some and making them easier to catch and eat.
They are nocturnal sharks who spend most of their time in very deep water. but at Monad Shoal in The Philippines, they come near to the surface to be cleaned at cleaning stations. Here divers can see them very early in the morning, but from a safe distance so as not to disturb the sharks.
They give birth to one or two live pups per year.
