Species: Prionace glauca, Blue Shark

Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)

Blue Shark

Body very elongate and fusiform; snout long and narrowly rounded; no spiracles; eyes round, with nictitating membrane; teeth serrated, long and triangular, broader and curved on top jaw, center tooth of top jaw very large; five gill slits, last two over pectoral; gill arches with papillae along front edge; 1st dorsal fin low, its origin well behind pectoral fins, center of base nearer pelvics than rear insertion of pectorals; no ridge between dorsals; pectorals very long, narrow, slightly curved, pointed tips; tail base with small keel; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, lower lobe of tail well developed, upper lobe with undulating ridge along its top edge, and a notch under its tip, pits at its base.

Back dark blue, flanks intense blue; belly white; tip of pectoral and anal dark.

Size: 383 cm.

Habitat: oceanic, pelagic.

Depth: 0-1160 m.

Circumglobal in all tropical and temperate seas; Canada to Argentina.