The shortfin mako shark is an apex predator known for its exceptional speed. The simple answer to whether these animals are “friendly” is no; they are wild, solitary hunters with powerful instincts. However, it is inaccurate to classify them as inherently aggressive toward humans, as their natural behavior keeps them largely separate from people. Understanding their true nature requires looking at their physical design and typical behavior.
Identification and Defining Characteristics
The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) possesses a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body engineered for rapid movement. Combined with a powerful, crescent-shaped tail, this design allows the mako to reach speeds up to 43 miles per hour, making it the fastest shark species.
They maintain a body temperature warmer than the surrounding water using a specialized circulatory system called a countercurrent heat exchange. This partial endothermy increases their muscle power and reaction speed for hunting in temperate and tropical pelagic waters. Their mouths are armed with long, slender, unserrated, dagger-like teeth suited for gripping fast, slippery fish like tuna and swordfish.
Mako Behavior and Interactions with Humans
Shortfin makos are solitary, highly migratory sharks that primarily occupy the open ocean. They act as opportunistic predators at the top of their food chain, feeding on bony fishes and fast-moving pelagic species. Since they do not view humans as a typical food source, interactions are infrequent and occur mostly in deep-water environments. Encounters usually involve fishing activities, where the shark is drawn to struggling fish or bait near a vessel.
Aggressive behavior is typically a reaction to stress or threat, not an unprovoked attack. When hooked on a fishing line, makos are known for powerful bursts of speed and spectacular leaps, sometimes reaching heights of 20 feet. This response is an attempt to escape capture and can result in the shark landing on a boat, which is a dangerous, provoked incident. Divers note that a mako may display a figure-eight swimming pattern and approach with an open mouth prior to an attack, which serves as a threat display.
The Reality of Reported Incidents
Documented unprovoked attacks by shortfin mako sharks on humans are extremely rare, especially considering their global distribution and power. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) records only a small number of unprovoked attacks attributed to the species throughout history. Records through 2022 list only 10 unprovoked attacks worldwide, with three of those being fatal. This low number is dwarfed by the frequency of incidents involving other well-known shark species, and most recorded injuries occur after the shark has been caught and is struggling on a line.
Human activity poses a far greater threat to the shortfin mako than the reverse, as the species is highly valued in commercial fisheries for its meat and fins. Due to their slow reproductive rate, makos are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The species is currently classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This status underscores the reality that the primary dynamic between humans and makos is one where the shark is the threatened party, often caught as bycatch by high-seas longline fleets.