Isurus

"Mako shark" redirects here. For other uses, see Mako shark (disambiguation).

Isurus Temporal range: 56–0 Ma[1] PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Thanetian to Present
Shortfin mako shark (I. oxyrinchus)
Longfin mako shark (I. paucus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Lamniformes
Family:	Lamnidae
Genus:	Isurus Rafinesque, 1810
Type species
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810
Synonyms
Isuropsis Gill, 1862 Lamiostoma Glikman, 1964 Oxyrhina Agassiz, 1838 Oxyrrhina Bonaparte, 1846 Plectrostoma Gistel, 1848

Isurus is a genus of mackerel sharks in the family Lamnidae, commonly known as the mako sharks. There are two living species, the common shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the rare longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus), and several extinct species known from fossils. They range in length from 9 to 15 feet, and have an approximate maximum weight of 1,750 lbs. The Lamnidae family also includes sharks such as the great white shark and porbeagle. The Mako shark is capable of swimming up to 40mph and jumping up to 24 ft. in the air.

Species

The genus contains two living species:

• Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 (Shortfin mako)
• Isurus paucus Guitart-Manday, 1966 (Longfin mako)

Fossil species include I. hastalis, I. retroflexus, I. desori, I. escheri, and I. planus.^[2][3]

See also

• List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish

References

1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: 560. http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=575&rank=class. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
2. ^ Fitzgerald, Erich (2004). "A review of the Tertiary fossil Cetacea (Mammalia) localities in wales port talbot". Memoirs of Museum Victoria 61 (2): pp. 183–208. http://museumvictoria.com.au/pages/3948/61_2_Fitzgerald.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-05. 
3. ^ Applegate, Shelton P.; Dale E. Russell (1970). The Vertebrate Fauna of the Selma Formation of Alabama. Part VII. Part VIII. The Mosasaurs The Fishes. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History. pp. 387–430. OCLC 50419737. http://www.archive.org/stream/vertebratefaunao38appl/vertebratefaunao38appl_djvu.txt. 

• Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8