Salmon Shark

Quick Take

• Salmon sharks have an ability most sharks lack, and it is precisely what allows them to thrive in waters cold enough to kill other predators. Endothermic ability explained →
• Scientists spent years misidentifying this shark as an entirely different species, and it is easy to understand why. Porbeagle comparison details →
• Female salmon sharks mature faster than males, yet they lose years off their lifespan. The article reveals the gap. Lifespan gap between sexes →
• Commercial fishermen don't target salmon sharks. In fact, they dread them, and the reason goes beyond just size. Commercial fishing relationship →

The Salmon shark is sometimes called “Pacific Porbeagle” because its appearance is almost indistinguishable from the porbeagle species. In fact, before realizing it was a separate species, the salmon shark was incorrectly identified as a porbeagle. The salmon shark is also commonly mistaken for a great white shark and has been nicknamed “mini great white” due to their many similarities. These sharks are not fished commercially but are frequently captured as bycatch and occasionally caught by recreational fishermen. Salmon sharks are migratory and are very fast swimmers.

5 Incredible Salmon Shark Facts

• Baby sharks are called pups.
• Salmon sharks are a species of Mackerel shark.
• These sharks are endothermic.
• Salmon sharks reproduce via ovoviviparity.
• Embryos of these sharks feed on unfertilized eggs in the mother’s uterus.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for this shark is Lamna ditropis. They are sometimes referred to as Pacific porbeagle or mini great white. Salmon sharks are members of the Lamnidae family, otherwise known as mackerel sharks. They belong to Chondrichthyes, which is a class of cartilaginous fishes that includes roughly 1,000 species of sharks, skates, and rays. The name Lamna ditropis is of Greek origin. Lamna means shark, while the meaning of di is two, and tropis is defined as a keel.

Salmon Shark vs. Porbeagle

These sharks and Porbeagles are incredibly similar. A comparison of these two species, however, demonstrates the differences that distinguish them from one another. While they have a strikingly similar appearance, there are a couple of factors that distinguish them. The main difference between these two species is their habitat. Salmon sharks inhabit the North Pacific, and the Porbeagle occupies the North Atlantic. Another difference between the species is their conservation status. Porbeagle sharks are a vulnerable species, whereas Salmon sharks are not, categorized as Least Concern.

Appearance

These sharks have dark gray to black dorsal (upper side) coloring. The ventral (underside) is white with dark blotches. They have two dorsal fins and a crescent-shaped tail fin. Their skin is made up of dermal denticles, or placoid scales. Salmon sharks have sharp teeth and a blunt snout. They have large gill slits, which they use to breathe. The average size of these sharks ranges from 6 to 10 feet in length and between 210 and 485 pounds, although they have been recorded at an impressive weight of 660 pounds. Female salmon sharks are generally larger in length and weight than males.

These sharks are endothermic, meaning they can regulate their body temperature to remain warmer than the surrounding water at varying depths. They generally live in cold temperate waters around 34 degrees Fahrenheit. However, due to this unique survival adaptation, they can keep their body at higher temperatures than the water surrounding them.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

It is difficult to pinpoint the number of these sharks in the wild today. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the number was 16,600,000 to 21,900,000 in the year 1989. Between 1985 and 1995, as well as the 2000s, the population was noted as stable. The conservation status for salmon sharks is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

These sharks live in marine saltwater habitats. Their range is in the oceanic, pelagic, and subtropical regions. They are native to the Pacific Ocean, Nearctic, and Palearctic. They inhabit areas of the ocean off Canada, the United States, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia. They are found at depths between 0 and 1,864 meters.

Predators and Prey

These apex predator carnivores eat a variety of fish and tend to follow the migratory patterns of species they hunt.

What eats Salmon Sharks?

Because of their size, these sharks have few natural predators. Humans are the only known predators of adults. Young sharks may fall prey to larger sharks.

What do Salmon Sharks eat?

As their name suggests, their main prey is salmon. They also feed on many other fish such as codfish, herring, sablefish, squid, steelhead trout, spiny dogfish, pollock, and more. Given the opportunity, these sharks will also attack and eat sea otters and some birds.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Between late summer and early fall, these sharks migrate south to mate. Male sharks will mate with many females. To breed, the male grasps the female and inserts his clasper into her cloaca. These sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the fetuses develop inside eggs, within the body of the mother shark. The mother gives birth to live pups when the embryos’ development is complete. The gestation period, similar to that of humans, is about nine months. In the spring, they migrate back to their feeding habitat and give birth to two to five pups. The pups measure between 15.7 and 19.7 inches when they are born. Pups are independent from birth and receive no parental care.

Male sharks reach sexual maturity at three to five years old, while females mature at eight to ten years old. Female salmon sharks have a slightly shorter average lifespan than males. Females live up to 20 years and males live up to 27 years.

Fishing and Cooking

Commercial fisheries do not fish for these sharks, but they are a common accidental bycatch. Commercial fishermen consider them pests because they can damage equipment and eat large numbers of the salmon being targeted. Salmon sharks are sometimes sought after by recreational fishermen. According to the fishermen, a circle hook, a long wire leader, a heavy-pound-test line, and a strong reel are needed to land a salmon shark.

Some humans in places such as Alaska and Japan eat salmon sharks. People who enjoy this fish as a meal say it tastes similar to swordfish. On occasion, their fins are used for shark fin soup, which is a traditional Chinese dish. Their hearts may be used in Japanese sashimi. Meat from these sharks can be marinated and grilled as steaks.

Some may wonder whether salmon sharks can be kept as pets. In truth, these apex predators would not be suitable, as they would require a massive tank and have other special needs. Smaller shark species would be better suited to aquarium life.