Prionace glauca
blue shark

The blue shark inhabits tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide.

This is a pelagic species which inhabits clear, deep, blue waters. It is most commonly found in waters where the depth is greater than 100 fathoms and in a temperature range of 10-20 degrees C(60-68 deg. F).

The blue shark's snout is longer than the width of its mouth. Its pectoral fins are extraordinarily long, approximately the length from the tip of the snout to the last gill slit. The upper teeth are triangular, curved cusps with serrated edges and overlapping bases. Lower cusps are erect and smoother. Color above is a deep indigo shading to a brighter blue on the sides. The undersides are white. Average length is 1.8-2.4m.

This is a solitary, sluggish shark often observed cruising slowly on the surface. It does, however, become capable of rapid movement if it is excited or feeding. Blue sharks posses strange and complex migratory habits that span great distances but are poorly understood. A population in New England is known to migrate to northeastern South America and across the Atlantic as well.

Th blue shark preys primarily upon schooling fishes such as anchovies, sardines, herring etc,. and also squid. It will, however, attack virtually anything, including gill-netted salmon and wounded marine animals.

These sharks become entangled in the nets set for mackeral, pilcher, and salmon. It has been known to attack humans, air and sea disaster victims in particular.

The blue shark is a game fish and will readily take surface bait. A commercial fishery for blues has been developed on the west coast.

The blue shark is one of the most common and widest-ranging of all sharks.