Porbeagle shark
Scientific name: Lamna nasus
The porbeagle shark is a member of the shark family Lamnidae, making it one of the closest living relatives of the great white shark.
Species information
Statistics
Length: Up to 365cmWeight: Up to 230kg
Average Lifespan: Can live for over 50 years
Conservation status
Porbeagle sharks are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and is a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
When to see
June to OctoberAbout
This large shark is usually found in deeper water, where it hunts a variety of smaller fish including mackerel, whiting and herring, as well as octopus, squid and cuttlefish.They are strong swimmers and tagging studies have shown that they can travel huge distances. One porbeagle shark tagged in Irish waters was later found as far away as Newfoundland in Canada!
Porbeagle sharks are endothermic, which means they can maintain a higher body temperature and keep themselves warmer than the surrounding water. This is a big advantage for them as it allows them to live and hunt in colder seas than many other sharks.