PORT PHILLIP BAY


Blue Shark 

Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Vertebrae: 239-253 (precaudal 142-150)
Jaw teeth (upper): 14 or 15-0 or 1-14 or 15
Jaw teeth (lower): 13 to 15-1-13 to 15

Additional information in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Family level detail.
Small to large streamlined pelagic sharks with the large first dorsal fin positioned just before the middle of the body, the second far back in front of the tail; tail with a well-developed lower lobe; 5 gill slits, the last positioned above the pectoral fin; teeth blade-like with a strong cusp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Order:
Carcharhiniformes
Family:
Carcharhinidae
Genus:
Prionace
Species:
glauca

General Description

A large, slender, streamlined shark with a very long narrow snout and large scythe-like pectoral fins; first dorsal-fin base well behind pectoral-fin origin. Upper body distinctly blue, grading to white below. To 3.8 m.

Biology

A wide-ranging pelagic shark. Females give birth to live young. Although potentially dangerous to humans, blue sharks are rarely encountered.

Habitat

Usually in the open ocean, from the surface to a depth of 350 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide. Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sharks and rays › Sharks

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Midwater

Max Size

3.8 m

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Potentially dangerous to humans.

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Near Threatened

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Blue Shark, Prionace glauca, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7840

Text: creative commons cc by licence