A type of shark which is also called the copper shark or narrowtooth shark and is found in warmer waters. Show Mako sharkAlso is known as the blue pointer or bonito shark, the mako shark is one of the fastest sharks in the ocean. It can swim up to 96 kilometres per hour - as fast as a car driving on the motorway! It can be found all over the world in temperate (cold and warm) waters, including New Zealand. Great white sharkA great white shark, or mangō taniwha in Māori is a large shark that lives in warm seas. The great white is known for its size, and can grow up to 6.1 metres in length. It became famous as the shark in the movie ‘Jaws,’ but it doesn’t naturally eat humans. It is more likely to snack on fish, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles instead. How fast can a shark swim? This question may pop into your mind as you calmly watch a shark video or more urgently as you are swimming or scuba diving and think you may have spotted a fin circling you. If you are fishing, you may wonder whether the shark will be able to outpace your boat. Sharks are built for bursts of speed as they attack their prey, much like lions and tigers on land. They need to be able to swim fast enough to pursue their prey for short distances, then make the lunge for the kill. The speed of a shark also depends on the species. Smaller, streamlined species are capable of higher speeds than larger, bulkier sharks. Swimming Speed of the Average SharkThe general rule of thumb is that sharks can cruise at about 5 mph (8 kph)—roughly the same speed as the fastest Olympic swimmer. If you're just a good swimmer, they have you beat. But often they are swimming around at a slower speed of about 1.5 mph (2.4 kph). These fish are predators. Sharks can swim much faster over short bursts when they are attacking prey. At these times, they can reach about 12 mph (20 kph), the speed of a running human on land. A person in the water facing a shark in serious attack mode has little chance of swimming fast enough to escape. Although shark attacks on humans receive great publicity, the reality is that we are not a preferred food for sharks. Most attacks occur when a swimmer either looks or smells like a common prey species. Swimmers in black wetsuits in water where seals are found may be at some risk, as are spearfish divers carrying speared fish. It is relatively rare for sharks to attack a swimming human being, and even in cases of massive shipwrecks, later analysis usually shows that when sharks feed on humans, it is usually after they are dead. Fastest Shark: The Shortfin MakoIn a race among different types of sharks, the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) would be the winner. It is the cheetah of ocean-going predators. This robust, streamlined shark is reported to have been clocked at 31 mph (50 kph), although some sources say it can reach speeds as high as 60 mph (96.5 kph). This is a shark known to chase and catch even faster fish, such as the sailfish and swordfish, which can reach speeds more than 60 mph when leaping. The mako can also perform giant leaps of up to 20 feet (6 meters) out of the water. Researchers in New Zealand found that a young mako could accelerate from a dead stop to 100 feet (30.5 meters) in just two seconds, which puts its speed at more than 60 mph over that brief lunge. Luckily, the mako is rarely encountered by swimmers and divers, as it normally lives far offshore. When it does encounter human beings, it rarely attacks. Some predatory fish species such as shortfin makos and great white sharks are able to conserve their metabolic heat in a manner unique to cold-blooded creatures. In essence, this means that they are not completely cold-blooded and can, therefore, generate the energy necessary for bursts of considerable speed. Species' Swimming SpeedsHere are some speeds of some common shark species:
Cite this Article Format mla apa chicagoYour Citation Kennedy, Jennifer. "How Fast Can a Shark Swim?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-fast-can-a-shark-swim-2291556 (accessed December 4, 2022). How fast can most sharks swim?But often they are swimming around at a slower speed of about 1.5 mph (2.4 kph). But sharks can swim much faster when they are attacking, about 12 mph or 20 kph, the speed of a running human on land.
What is the 3 fastest shark?#3 Fastest Shark: Blue Shark
With their long and slender bodies, blue sharks are built for speed. Also known as the wolves of the sea, blue sharks can reach the impressive speed of 43mph.
What are some of the fastest sharks?With top speeds of 45 miles per hour (74 kilometers per hour), the shortfin mako is the fastest shark and is one of the fastest fishes on the planet.
Is a mako shark faster than a great white?The Mako Shark is the fastest shark in the world. It can clock in at speeds of 60 mph (96 mph).
|