Oceanic long-winged shark: description, features and habitat

In this article we want to talk about the long-winged shark, which is the most formidable predator of the water element.

Why is a shark a long-winged shark?

If you have never heard of this, then keep in mind that it is the most dangerous of all kinds. What animal is a long-winged shark? It is a deceptively slow and at the same time very aggressive ocean inhabitant. It is proved that this shark attacked people who were shipwrecked, much more often than all other representatives of this species.

This name she got thanks to the fins. It should be noted that they are larger than the other species. Caudal fin strongly developed. The maximum length of the predator is about four meters, although usually smaller specimens are found, not more than two and a half or three meters.

The long-winged shark has a narrow body, sometimes with a slight hunchback. Its dimensions are not so impressive, there are species with larger parameters, but, nevertheless, it is very aggressive and dangerous.

What does the predator eat?

So what does the long-winged shark feed on? The main prey for the predator is fish and cephalopods. Naturally, like her other relatives, she will not refuse to eat a sea turtle, carrion of marine mammals and crustaceans. Inside the caught sharks sometimes find garbage from the ships, thrown by the man overboard.

Sharks are hunting not only themselves, but also in the company with other species of marine predators. In such a community, they become extremely aggressive.

Where does a shark live?

The long-finned shark is a real ocean fish. It, as a rule, rarely lives in the coastal zone. Most often it can be seen on the surface in the open sea. It never emerges from the water, only its fin is always visible.

The long-winged shark has one very interesting feature. She not only hears, but also feels absolutely all the smells above the water surface. It is this feature that gives her the opportunity to first discover the prey and come to her until the others have inhabited the ocean and have not yet seen her.

Appearance of a thunderstorm ocean

The long-winged oceanic shark has its own characteristics that distinguish it from any other species. Predator is the owner of large dorsal and pectoral fins, outwardly they are very similar to bird's wings. They are not only long, but also end in rounded areas.

The shark has an elongated body, a small head and a slightly dull muzzle. Her eyes are relatively small with a moving eyelid. The mouth of the predator has the shape of a sickle. It is always ajar when the shark moves. On each side of the mouth are the gill lines.

The largest fins are caudal, dorsal, thoracic. The rest is much smaller. On the fins there are yellow spots - these are the specific features of the coloring. Color predator can range from light brown to gray-blue tones. The color range depends on the age of the shark.

The teeth of the upper and lower jaws differ from each other. At the top they are triangular and wide enough, with lateral grooves. The teeth of the lower jaw are smaller and look like fangs.

Dangerous predator

The long-winged shark is the most widespread and dangerous predator of the world ocean. Most often it occurs in subtropical and tropical waters. Strangely enough, but such a formidable predator avoids approaching coastal zones of the seas.

A few years ago, the long-winged shark was not considered such a dangerous predator, since it hunted in the open sea. However, in 2010 there were several cases when this species attacked people in Egyptian coastal waters.

As it turned out, the predator has a reason to fear even at previously safe distances.

This variety is one of the largest, it can be classified as the Maxi Shark. Long-winged shark in length can reach four meters and weigh up to sixty kilograms. Even the case when the weight of the predator was one hundred and seventy kilograms is fixed! It should be noted that females, as a rule, are larger than males.

Shark Features

The long-winged shark produces light at a time up to seven sharks, each of them does not exceed half a meter. The predator multiplies by egg-laying.

The shark, unlike other fish, does not have a swim bladder. So, in order not to drown, she must constantly move. Usually the predator moves extremely slowly, as if lazily, because for more rapid movement, it will also leave more energy.

Do not be mistaken about such slowness in her movements. This absolutely does not make it harmless. If necessary, she makes powerful and quick throws and instantly clings to a dead grip for her victim.

The long-finned oceanic shark is an extremely dangerous predator, which threatens even its kindred. If you compare this variety with blue or silk, then it certainly ranks first.

The shark is a rather curious creature that will not ignore any prey. And necessarily interested in a swimming diver. The basis of predator nutrition are tuna and squid. People have long noticed that sharks like to swim for some vessel, collecting along the way any edible scum thrown out of the ship. If a turtle or some dead animal hits the road, the predator will certainly arrange a feast for himself. Quite often in the stomachs of dead sharks find inedible objects of everyday use or garbage.

Bloodthirst of predators

These predators are very aggressive. This is explained by the fact that any marine dwellers eat up for future use. A solid prey is not found on their way very often, and therefore, to maintain the necessary energy, sharks are trying to grab large chunks for themselves. Such instincts were formed over millions of years and repeatedly saved predators from hunger.

It has been observed by man that when a pack of sharks attacks a tuna after a feast on the surface of the sea, a large number of dead fish float.

It is also surprising that the long-winged shark is a very tenacious creature. There were absolutely incomprehensible cases when fishermen, having gutted the caught storm of the seas, threw it overboard. Strangely enough, but the predator continued to circumnavigate around the ship in search of food.

Harm caused by a long-winged shark

I must say that the long-winged shark inflicts great damage to industrial fishing for tuna. This is due to the fact that predators consume this fish a lot, and their dexterity and quickness in hunting is not equal to human capabilities. People simply can not compete with sharks. The predator itself is often caught in the net, set up for tuna. However, it is not at all interesting for man. The most that people can do is to use her meat for food.

When shipwrecked on the high seas, all those who managed to escape are threatened by death threats from predatory creatures. They have a very rare sense of smell, which allows them to track down accidents and attack people.

It should be noted that the long-winged shark is one of the most fearless creatures on earth. She can boldly attack an individual much more than herself and yet not think that she herself may well become a prey.

The world famous researcher Jacques Yves Cousteau called long-winged sharks the most dangerous for humans. Although the big white shark, tiger and shark bull are also notorious, but the greatest number of attacks on people was exactly this kind. It is difficult to judge the number of deaths, since there was not officially a statistic of the deaths of seamen who survived the shipwreck, but died from sharks. And yet, there is reason to believe that in tropical waters, most of the people trapped in the water have become victims of a long-winged shark. For example, during World War II, a steamship with a thousand passengers crashed near the coast of South Africa. And to this day it is believed that most of them died from these predators. So now the long-winged ocean shark is a very dangerous animal, which should be feared.