Family: ALOPIIDAE, Thresher Sharks, Thresher Shark

FAMILY ALOPIIDAE

THRESHER SHARKS

Large sharks (to 6 m); body stout, cylindrical; head short; snout long, conical; mouth small, ventral; five short gill slits, last two over base of pectoral fin; first dorsal large; second dorsal and anal very small; pectorals extremely long & narrow; pelvics large; upper lobe of tail extremely long (~ equal to body length); no keels on sides of tail base.

There is one genus containing 3 species of thresher sharks, which range worldwide. Thresher sharks are found in both the open ocean and near the coast of tropical and cool temperate areas.