Shortfin makos are the world's fastest sharks and can leap spectacularly out of the water when in pursuit of prey.

Statistics
Shortfin makos can reach up to 4m, but the average for a female is 3.37m and for males is 2.4m.

Physical description
Their skin is a metallic blue with a white belly. Makos have a conical snout with long, thin teeth.

Habitat
They inhabit all tropical and warm temperate seas, from the surface to moderately deep levels.

Diet
They hunt small schooling fish, squid and octopus, and are an important predator of large pelagic fish including tuna and swordfish. They also prey on some species of dolphin.

Behaviour
They are considered to be dangerous to humans although there are few reliable records of attacks.

Conservation status
These sharks are taken in large numbers by longline fleets worldwide, especially in the eastern North Atlantic by Spanish swordfish fleets. Their conservation status is one for concern but hard to quantify, and they are considered to be Lower Risk by the 2000 IUCN Red List.