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pelagic thresher

Alopias pelagicus

The pelagic thresher is a sleek and speedy fish known for its long tail. It swims in the open ocean and uses its tail to catch fish by stunning them. These fish are fascinating and can be quite playful!

Habitat: Open ocean

Appearance

The pelagic thresher has a sleek, torpedo-shaped body with a metallic blue-grey back and clean white belly. Its most distinctive feature is its incredibly long, whip-like upper tail fin lobe, often half its total body length.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderLamniformesFamilyAlopiidaeGenusAlopias
pelagic thresher
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pelagic thresher

Category

Fish

Rarity

Common

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its tail can be longer than its entire body, like a superhero's cape!

Pelagic threshers love to travel far, swimming across vast ocean distances.

These sharks often swim near the surface, enjoying the sunny top waters.

They use their mighty tails to smack prey, making fishing super exciting to watch!

Special abilities

Ability

Whip-Tail Hunter

Pelagic threshers can stun prey with their extra-long tail because they use it like a whip to disorient fish schools.

Ability

Oceanic Leaper

Pelagic threshers can leap clear of the water, which helps them shed parasites or communicate with others.

Measurements & details

Length
100-350 cm
Weight
20-90 kg
Lifespan
10-15 years
Swim Speed
45 km/h
Maximum Depth
500 m
Water Type
Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

They are skilled hunters that mainly eat schooling fish and squid, using their amazing tail!

Primary Foods

  • sardines
  • mackerel
  • squid
  • anchovies
  • herring

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Pilchard

Sardinops sagax

Main food source in many regions.

hunts

Chub Mackerel

Scomber japonicus

Common prey item for these sharks.

eaten by

Orca

Orcinus orca

Occasionally preyed upon by killer whales.

symbiotic with

Common Remora

Remora remora

Attaches to sharks for transport and food scraps.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Always stay safe by watching from a distance when near the ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is pelagic thresher?

100-350 cm

How much does pelagic thresher weigh?

20-90 kg

How long does pelagic thresher live?

10-15 years

What does pelagic thresher eat?

They are skilled hunters that mainly eat schooling fish and squid, using their amazing tail!

How fast can pelagic thresher swim?

45 km/h

Where is pelagic thresher usually found?

Open ocean

How does pelagic thresher hunt?

Pursuit

How deep can pelagic thresher go?

500 m

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