Mako Shark: The little sister of the great white shark. Accelerates up to 80 km/h and has the largest brains among other sharks (10 photos)

Everyone is afraid of great white sharks. For everything, thanks to the movie “Jaws” and the status of the largest predatory shark of our time. But she is far from the only one with explosive potential. Meet the mako shark. Driven by a frenzy of hunger, this fastest shark in the world is hiding a lot of interesting things.





Such an explosive nature of makos is very characteristic of their family - their closest relatives are the same white sharks. Like its older sister, the mako shark is a machine for the annihilation of all living things. The dimensions are appropriate: four meters and half a ton of refined rage.



No, the shark is not high. And not in a fit of rage. It’s just that the mako has very sharp vision, and its giant pupils help it find prey even at depth.

Mako sharks are considered the fastest among sharks. Their average speed is 35-50 km/h, and during throws it can reach 80 km/h. Thanks to this, they whistle out of the water five to six meters. And in one experiment, a young shark in pursuit of bait managed to accelerate from zero to hundreds in two seconds - and this, by the way, is the level of the most powerful race cars and hypercars!





This speed is achieved thanks to special leather. In all sharks it is covered with small serrations. But unlike the others, the mako's teeth are very flexible - they can tilt up to 40 degrees. This feature gives the fish carcass greater streamlining, and therefore speed.



Mako shark skin. Each needle has a diameter of 0.2 millimeters.

Following food and warm currents, makos can swim across the entire Atlantic and cover a distance of several thousand kilometers. Temperature changes are not a problem for them - the toothy fish maintains a constant body temperature due to the work of muscles and a developed network of blood vessels. Thanks to this, the shark is 4-5 degrees warmer than the water around it.



In terms of gastronomic tastes, mako sharks are not picky. A turtle, a bird, or a fish can fall into the mouth. Including another shark. The predator's mouth is huge, and the shape of the teeth allows it to tear off pieces from the victim on the fly. She has more than enough strength for this - one bite can equal a power of up to 13,000 newtons! For comparison, the bite force of a white shark is only 5,000 more.



But makos are harsh not only towards others, but also towards each other. Their struggle for survival begins even before birth. More developed embryos, with a lack of yolk, begin to feed on their brothers and sisters right in the womb. After a year and a half of pregnancy, only 4-16 of the fittest baby sharks receive the right to give birth.



Usually, when there is strength, no intelligence is required. But not in the case of our heroine. In terms of the ratio of brain size to body size, the mako shark is among the leaders. Scientists conducted an experiment with wild fish, during which the mako quickly realized that humans brought them free food and did not pose a threat. The predators even allowed themselves to be stroked by the researchers! In fact, scientists have tamed wild sharks for a while!



In general, our heroine does not consider people as prey. Although, in pursuit of a tasty treat, she can jump at full speed right into a fishing boat. But neither white sharks nor mako sharks specifically attack people. Most attacks are provoked by careless people.



Cases are described when a mako rushes towards a person at full speed with its mouth open. But a second before the “kiss” the fish moves away. In the language of predators, this is regarded as a final warning that must be heeded. And sometimes predators bite us out of curiosity. How to touch an unknown object without hands or paws? That's right, teeth.



Mako sharks are very popular among scuba divers and ecotourists. This is because these animals cannot be found in captivity. After just a few days in the aquarium, the makos go crazy: they refuse to eat, become disoriented and smash their faces into the walls. As they say, a child of nature demands freedom.