Mako Shark Identification Guide
Identify a Mako Shark by its metallic blue back, torpedo-shaped body, and visible protruding teeth.
Read the full Mako Shark encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Sleek, torpedo-shaped body built for exceptional bursts of speed
- Vivid metallic blue-gray back that transitions sharply to a bright white underside
- Long, sharp, narrow teeth that remain visible even when the mouth is closed
- Large, dark, rounded eyes and a pointed conical snout
- Crescent-shaped tail fin with nearly symmetrical upper and lower lobes and a strong lateral keel
Common look-alikes
- Blue shark: slimmer overall build, deeper indigo-blue coloring, longer pectoral fins, and blunt teeth not visible with the mouth closed
- Porbeagle shark: stockier body and a distinctive white patch at the rear base of the first dorsal fin, absent in mako
- Great white shark: larger and heavier overall, with broader triangular serrated teeth and a less vivid, more grayish-blue back
Where you'll see one
Mako sharks roam open, pelagic waters of temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, favoring deep offshore zones far from the coast and rarely lingering in shallow inshore water, often following schools of fast-swimming baitfish.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a mako shark from a blue shark?
Compare body build and teeth: mako sharks are more muscular with brighter metallic blue coloring and visible protruding teeth, while blue sharks are slimmer, deeper indigo, and their teeth are hidden when the mouth is shut.
What separates a mako shark from a great white shark?
Mako sharks have narrower, needle-like teeth visible with the mouth closed and a brighter blue back, whereas great whites have broad triangular serrated teeth and a duller, more grayish coloration.