Common Thresher Shark

This animal is not part of an Aquarium exhibit. It a wild species that lives in the open sea and in Oregon coastal waters. It is included here as part of the Aquarium's broad mission to educate about the entirety of the Oregon coastline.

This is the largest variety of thresher shark in the world, extending up to 20 feet (6 m) if you include the extremely long upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin. This feature is the shark’s most prominent attribute, but it also performs an important function as the shark can use it like a whip, inflicting painful blows to predators and prey alike. Aside from the unique tail, the shark can be identified by its streamlined body and stubby snout. It is generally gray or bluish-gray in color with a white belly band that extends over the top of the pectoral fins. Although a large shark, its teeth are comparatively small and suited for catching fish. The thresher shark is a docile species and presents little threat to human beings. Conversely, the shark is highly prized by many sport fishermen and is notorious for the strong fight it will put up both on and off the fishing line.

Range and Habitat:

The Common Thresher Shark can generally be found in coastal waters near the surface where schools of fish are plentiful. They are found all along the west coast of the United States and as far south as Mexico. There is another form of this shark called the Pelagic Thresher (Alopias pelagicus) which is similar in appearance but stays mostly in the open ocean.

Conservation Status:

Common. A slow reproduction cycle combined with overfishing may have brought about a rapid drop in its population along the West Coast of the United States in the 1980s. Restrictions on over-harvesting the thresher have helped to increase its numbers in recent years, but it is still considered a “vulnerable” species.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).