Watch as Massive Mako Shark Leaps onto Fishing Boat

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Like the intrepid fishermen in “Jaws,” these anglers in Whitianga, New Zealand are definitely going to need a bigger boat. No doubt attracted by their bait, a giant mako leaped into the air and landed on the front of the boat. It’s hard to say who was more shocked — the fishermen or the shark.

Makos are predatory sharks, but they typically only attack fast-moving fish like tuna, bluefish, and swordfish. Although they are considered potentially dangerous to humans, attacks are rare. There have only been 10 unprovoked attacks linked to mako sharks since 1850. So, this shark was probably looking for an easy meal when it made its spectacular jump. Please keep reading to learn more about mako sharks and their impressive agility.

Mako Shark Habitats

There are two species of mako shark. These are the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, and the longfin mako, Isurus paucus. The mako is one of the rare warm-blooded sharks, so they prefer tropical and warm temperate waters. However, shortfin mako sharks occur more frequently and live closer to the surface.

Shortfin and longfin makos can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, but the longfin is more common in the Western Atlantic and Central Pacific. The shark in the video above is a shortfin mako, as only the shortfin is found in New Zealand.

The Differences Between Shortfin and Longfin Makos

Shortfin and longfin mako sharks look similar, but there are a few noticeable anatomical differences. Longfin makos have darker under-snouts, slimmer bodies, and broader pectoral fins that are longer than their heads. Scientists believe these differences indicate longfin mako sharks are much slower and less active than their shortfin cousins. Longfin makos also have larger eyes than shortfins. Mako sharks are visual hunters, so the longfin sharks’ larger eyes are believed to be an adaptation for hunting in deeper parts of the ocean with less visible light.

Shortfin makos grow to lengths of about 13 feet. Less is known about the more mysterious longfin mako sharks, but they are believed to grow slightly longer at a maximum of around 14 feet. Large individuals of both species have been recorded at upwards of 1,000 pounds. Both sharks have a long lifespan of up to 30 years. Unfortunately, both species are also listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of overfishing. Makos are often a targeted catch, as well as bycatch for swordfish or tuna, two of their favorite meals.

The Mako Shark’s Incredible Skills

Shortfin mako sharks are considered the fastest sharks in the world. They can swim as fast as 31mph with a top speed of around 50mph. Several shark species, including the great white shark and the basking shark, can leap out of the water when hunting fast-moving prey. This tactic is called breaching. The mako shark can jump more than 20 feet. The highest recorded jump is around 30 feet, which is about twice as high as the record-breaking great white.

Despite the mako shark’s many skills, one thing it cannot do is breathe out of water for more than a few minutes. Sharks need a continuous stream of water over their gills so they can filter the oxygen from it. Fortunately, reports indicate that the mako shark in the video was able to flip itself back into the ocean so it could live to leap another day.