Blue shark
D-Blauhai; GB-Blue shark, blue pointer; DK-Blåhaj; PL-Zarlacz blekitny; LT-Melsvasis ryklys; EST-Sinihai; RU-Синяя акула; FIN-Sinihai; S-Blåhaj
Characters
1) Second dorsal fin much smaller than first dorsal fin.
2) Caudal peduncle without lateral keel.
3) Pectoral fin clearly before origin of dorsal fin.
●) 5 gill slits, slender body.
●) Back clear blue (quickly becoming grey after death); belly white.
Usually below 3 m, maximum 3.8 m length.
Similar species
Porbeagle - more bulky; end of pectoral fin below dorsal fin; strong keel on caudal peduncle.
Spurdog - thorns in front of dorsal fins; without anal fin.
Biology
Lives close to the surface in the open sea; mainly nocturnal. After a gestation time of 9 to 12 month a variable amount of juveniles will be born: between 4 and 135.Diet
Feeds mainly on shoaling fish like hering or mackerel, but also on squid, other invertebrates and occasionally smaller sharks.Importance
Target species of recreational fishermen. As food fish only of little importance, but often caught for finning.Endangerment
Heavily fished shark species. Additionally very common by-catch on long lines, trawl and gill nets.Prionace glauca
