Salmon Shark
Salmon Sharks are a type of mackerel shark, related to the Mako Shark and Great White. They live in the colder waters of the northern Pacific Ocean. In the Atlantic Ocean, a similar related shark filling the same ecological role is the Porbeagle.
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Lamnidae
Genus: Lamna
Species: L. ditropis
Common Names: Salmon Shark
Salmon Sharks are one of the few fish species that can regulate their own body temperature in their stomach, similar to warm blooded animals. Salmon sharks feed on squid, herring, and other fish including salmon, which is where they get their name.
Salmon Sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the young sharks develop in eggs within the mother’s body, and she gives birth when they are ready to hatch. While this is essentially a live birth, it is not the same as other live birth animals like mammals, in which the young in the womb are nourished via a placenta. The young sharks are nourished via a yolk sac that is attached to them within the egg.
The litter is usually two to six babies, called pups. They are sometimes cannibalistic in the womb, with some of the shark embryos feeding on the other eggs.
Males reach maturity at age five, while females become mature around age ten. Gestation takes about nine months.
Salmon Sharks look similar to Mako and Great White Sharks. They are colored dark gray to black above and white on the undersides, with dark blotches and spots. They are occasionally mistaken for young Great White Sharks. They are a stocky, heavy bodied shark.
These sharks may grow up to 8 ½ feet in length and weigh up to 485 pounds, though in rare cases it may reach nearly 1,000 pounds. There are unconfirmed reports of Salmon Sharks growing to over 14 feet long, but the largest confirmed reports are not more than 10 feet.
There is no commercial fishery for Salmon Shark, though they are sometimes accidentally caught in nets meant for salmon. They are a popular sport fish, especially in Alaska.
Salmon Sharks are not particularly dangerous to humans, mainly due to the lack of interaction in the water as the habitat favored by Salmon Sharks is too cold for bathers and most divers. However, they are apex predators like their cousins the Mako and Great White, so are not to be treated lightly.
The IUCN lists the Salmon Shark as a “Least Concern” species, meaning it is not currently under threat of becoming endangered or extinct. While it is eaten in some localities, it is not in danger of being overfished due to no commercial fishery existing for it. It also maintains a large range.
However, damage of its habitat due to ocean pollution, as well as overfishing of its prey species, may cause problems for the Salmon Shark in the future if not controlled.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_shark
Sharks of the World, 2005, Leonard Compagno, Marc Dando, Sarah Fowler
Safari Ltd Salmon Shark Toys
Wild Safari Sea Life Salmon Shark Figure