Head to head
Porbeagle vs Shortfin Mako Shark
Porbeagle
VS Shortfin Mako Shark
The porbeagle and the shortfin mako are close relatives in the same family, and both are fast, warm-bodied sharks whose embryos feed on unfertilised eggs.
| Porbeagle | Shortfin Mako Shark | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lamna nasus | Isurus oxyrinchus |
| Relationship | A close relative of the mako, in the mackerel shark family | A close relative of the porbeagle, in the mackerel shark family |
| Size | Reaches about 3 m in length | Commonly 2 to 3.2 m, up to about 4 m and over 500 kg, with females larger |
| Build | A stout, torpedo-shaped body, grey-blue above and white below, with a white patch at the rear of its first dorsal fin | A sleek, streamlined body built for speed |
| Speed | A strong, fast swimmer that is known to leap when hooked | Cruises fast and can burst to about 70 km/h, the fastest shark, and jumps up to 6 m out of the water |
| Warm body | Keeps parts of its body warmer than the water, which helps it hunt in cold seas | A network of blood vessels keeps its swimming muscles, stomach, brain, and eyes well above sea temperature |
| Young | A small litter of live young, whose embryos feed on unfertilised eggs inside the mother | Around 4 to 25 pups after a 15 to 18 month pregnancy, only every three years, with embryos eating unfertilised eggs |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable, with north-eastern Atlantic populations depleted by fishing | Endangered, in warm and temperate waters of all oceans |
Porbeagle vs Shortfin Mako Shark: common questions
Which one is faster?
The shortfin mako, which can burst to about 70 km/h and is the fastest shark, though the porbeagle is also a strong, fast swimmer.
Are they related?
Yes, they are close relatives in the same family, and both keep parts of their bodies warmer than the water.
Which one lives in colder water?
The porbeagle, which lives in cool temperate waters of the North Atlantic and the Southern Hemisphere, whereas the mako prefers warm and temperate seas.