ALOPIIDAE THRESHER SHARKS

Taxonomy:

Phylum– Chordata

Class– Chondrichthyles

Subclass– Elasmobranchii

Order–   Lamniformes

Thresher sharks are large lamniform sharks of the family Alopiidae found in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world; the family contains four species, all within the genus Alopias.

The genus and family name derive from the Greek word alopex, meaning fox, for its tail. The common name is derived from a distinctive, thresher-like tail or caudal fin which can be as long as the body of the shark.

Bigeye Thresher Shark– Alopias superciliosus

Common Thresher Shark– Alopias vulpinus

Pelagic Thresher Shark– Alopias pelagicus