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Family

Alopiidae (Thresher sharks)

Species Currently in the DFL

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Alopias vulpinus
Thresher Shark
Alopiidae
Lamniformes
Chondrichthyes
About This Family
Distribution:
Circumglobal.
Habitat:
Marine, tropical to cold temperate, coastal and oceanic (surface – at least 500m).
Remarks:
Thresher sharks have an unusually elongate and curvy upper lobe of caudal fin, about as long as the length of their body. They are found all over the world in tropical to cold temperate seas, at least 500 m from the surface. These sharks are ovoviviparous and can reach to a maximum length of at least 5.7 m.

They possess short gill openings, with the last two gill openings above pectoral fin base; small mouth, large eyes, and precaudal pits present.

Genera and species: The family consists of one genus, Alopias, with three species.

References:
Nelson 2006
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