Shark
Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
An open-water shark with an enormously elongated tail it uses like a whip to stun baitfish - a rare, memorable pass-through on these reefs.
Also known as fox shark, thresher
- Typical size
- 3-5 m including the long tail
- Habitat
- Open water, occasionally over inshore reefs
- Depth
- Surface to ~350 m
The thresher is instantly recognisable by its scythe-like upper tail lobe, which can be almost as long as the rest of the body. It uses this tail as a weapon, slapping and herding shoals of baitfish before feeding - a genuinely unusual hunting strategy among sharks.
Primarily an open-water species, it only occasionally works in over inshore reefs, which is why it appears on just a couple of these spot lists as a fleeting visitor. It is shy of divers and harmless to them.