Where to Find Mako Sharks, the Speedsters of the Sea

Mako sharks are fast, predatory sharks that can be found swimming in tropical and temperate oceans. These speedsters of the seas can reach 31 miles per hour, with bursts of up to 46 miles per hour. Mako sharks are migratory and can cover long distances quickly. Let’s find out where in the world mako sharks live.

Mako Sharks: Two Species

There are two species of mako sharks: the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the longfin mako (Isurus paucus). The longfin is named for its longer fins, while the shortfin has the record as the fastest shark in the ocean. Both species are in the family Lamnidae, which includes fast-swimming predatory sharks, such as the great white shark. Shortfin makos are typically around six to seven feet in length, although some have been found measuring up to 12 feet. Longfin makos are the larger of the two, reaching up to 14 feet in length.

Where Do Shortfin Mako Sharks Live?

Shortfin makos prefer tropical and temperate waters. They have been found from the surface to depths of 1,640 feet, and tend to prefer waters that are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. These fast-moving, migratory sharks swim in oceans around the world. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, in North and South America, they live in the Pacific Ocean from California down to Chile. On the Atlantic side of the Americas, shortfin makos range from Argentina up to Grand Banks, Canada. They can also be found in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

On the western Pacific side, shortfin makos are found swimming from New Zealand to Japan, while in the central Pacific, they range from the Society Islands to the Aleutian Islands. In the Indian Ocean, shortfin makos are found from Australia to South Africa. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, they range from South Africa up to Norway, and are also found in the Mediterranean Sea.

Where do Longfin Mako Sharks Live?

Longfin mako sharks live in oceans worldwide, although they are less common than their close relative, the shortfin mako. Like shortfin makos, longfin makos prefer warm and temperate waters. They swim in the upper part of the mesopelagic zone (660 feet to 3,330 feet deep) during the day, swimming up into the epipelagic zone at night (650 feet to the surface) to hunt for food. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, longfin makos live in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They have been recorded in the northwestern and eastern Atlantic Oceans, including occasional sightings off the coast of Cuba.