![]() Interestingly, after mating, female blue sharks can store a male’s sperm to delay fertilization until the time is right! Once the eggs are fertilized the gestation period is between 9-12 months this is how long it takes the offspring to develop. During courtship, the males will bite the females repeatedly, which has resulted in females having skin three times as thick as males! Female blue sharks are able to breed every year, although it is uncertain if they always do. Once mature, the two sexes will come together once a year to mate. Lastly, tracking data has also shown us that blue sharks of different ages/sizes do not reside in the same areas, so after giving birth female adults will also leave that area. Secondly, after mating, females migrate to new areas to give birth to their pups (baby sharks). First, females and males tend to spatially segregate throughout most of the year they live in different parts of the ocean except for when they come together to mate. However, they sexually mature (can mate and produce offspring) between the ages of 5-7 years for females and 4-6 years for males.īlue sharks have very complex and lengthy migration patterns (which can include transatlantic migrations!) for a few reasons. The blue shark has a long life and can live to be 20 years old. Since the blue shark is so widespread, the exact timing of their life cycle varies depending on the region, but the general story is the same. Their primary diet consists of small fish that live in open water or on the ocean floor, invertebrates (such as squids), other small sharks, and even seabirds! What is the life history of the blue shark? The blue shark is a more active hunter at night, but they have been observed feeding throughout an entire 24-hour period. ![]() In terms of vertical range, they can be found from 350 m in depth all the way to the surface.īlue sharks can be considered apex predators within their ecosystem, meaning they are at the top of their food chain. The geographical range of this abundant species is from latitudes of 60 ºN and 50 ºS! Because of this, blue sharks are found off of every continent except Antarctica. Blue sharks can live in both temperate and tropical waters, which range from 53.6✯-68 ✯ (12-20 ✬). This means they usually are found away from the coastline, unless the continental shelf is particularly narrow in that area.Īs well as being the most abundant shark, they are the most wide-ranging. ![]() The blue shark is one of the most abundant shark species within the pelagic zone of the ocean (open water away from the coast). They also have very large, round-shaped eyes, and of course, a lot of teeth. Their coloration can be described as indigo blue along their dorsal area (upper part of their body), with metallic blue flanks (their sides), and a bright white underside. An adult blue shark can grow up to 12.5 feet (380 cm) long! The females are usually between 5.6-7.2 feet long (173-221 cm), and the males are 6-12.5 feet long (182–380 cm). The blue shark ( Prionace glauca) is a long and slender predatory shark with a lengthy yet rounded nose. However, today we are talking about one of the most abundant and widespread of these beautiful and diverse creatures: the blue shark. There are many different sharks living in our vast oceans, and they have a wide range of shapes, sizes, life cycles, and diets.
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