Blue shark… At the mention of this phrase, the heart of many scuba divers starts to beat faster. These majestic predators have always been entangled in a halo of mystery and fear. The size and power of their jaws are legendary. Are these sea monsters so dangerous and what is really hidden under the mask of bloody killers? Perhaps it is worth starting with the fact that this predator is the most common representative of its family in the waters of the oceans.
Amazing coloring
She belongs to the subspecies of gray sharks, which have always been famous for their predatory grip and high speed of movement. The shark (blue) fish got its name, like many others, as a result of its bluish-blue color. Its back is predominantly dark blue, the sides are pale blue, and the abdomen is white. More recently, this inhabitant of the water depths was one of the most common fish on the planet. But todaythe population of these majestic and graceful predators is rapidly declining. Perhaps soon their number will reach a critically low level. After all, cases are becoming more frequent when very young individuals who have not yet had time to acquire offspring get into the nets of experienced sailors.
Shark blue: habitats, origins
The habitat of these sea queens is limited mainly to the Indian and Pacific oceans. This suggests that this species is a heat-loving adherent of calm waters. However, from time to time they are noticed in areas of Argentina or New Zealand. In the incessant search for prey, the blue shark may find itself in the waters near Norway or even Iceland. Unlike its many relatives, it rarely migrates over long distances. When there is enough food, there are favorable climatic conditions, then the likelihood that this species will go on a long journey across the seas and oceans is relatively small.
Body structure and comfortable water temperature
The predator prefers a comfortable temperature, which can fluctuate within the plus temperature: from 7-8 to 15-16 degrees Celsius. It is logical to conclude that such a regime is not typical for deep oceanic waters, where even the sun's rays penetrate with difficulty. Therefore, the blue shark prefers the upper layers of the water. Despite all her agility and speed, she does not dive to a depth of more than three hundred meters. An individual who grew up in comfortableconditions, can reach a length of four meters, weigh about four hundred kilograms. This species differs from its other relatives in a rather thin physique. Some would call it spindly. However, despite all its compactness, the blue shark has rather large and powerful pectoral fins. Thanks to such a small weight and strong muscles, this predator can develop dizzying speed in the water.
Standard diet
What can you say about the diet of these conquerors of the deep sea? This factor depends on the habitat, namely, the coastal or more distant oceanic zone. A wide variety of marine life is found at different depths, so sharks have to take this natural factor into account when looking for food. And they do an excellent job with this problem. Away from the coast, the blue shark feeds on small fish: herring, mackerel or sardine, sometimes it also includes squid in its diet. The coastal zone is richer in living creatures than the sea depths. Therefore, near the shore, you can often profit from small fish, waterfowl and waste, which is what the blue shark does. The description of her maritime exploits is often admired. And this is with the condition that she practically does not distinguish colors! However, this disadvantage is fully compensated by an impeccable sense of smell and remarkable contrast perception.
Now a little about how the blue shark breeds. The description of many scientific publications suggests that this species belongs toviviparous sharks. Pregnancy on average lasts nine to twelve months. A distinctive feature is the number of newborn sharks. There can be from four to hundreds! The mother prefers to breed offspring in warm coastal waters. Despite the large brood, only a few go on further swimming. This is often associated with illegal fishing, as a result of which poachers catch many young and still immature individuals.
Blue shark and man
Perhaps, not only a man is a threat to a predator, but vice versa. The blue shark poses a direct and serious danger to human life. The probability of an attack or, so to speak, an accident is especially high in the expanses of the open ocean. After a shipwreck or other man-made disaster, a person finds himself face to face with the elements. And the blue shark will not miss the chance to profit from fresh prey. Scuba divers and careless bathers are also exposed to this danger. The shark can lie in wait in attractive warm waters and quiet lagoons. Once in the teeth of a shark, in most cases, you can immediately say goodbye to life. Their powerful jaws are built in such a way that it is almost impossible to get out of the mouth intact.
The razor-sharp front teeth are also concave inwards. Their triangular shape resembles small sharp daggers. An interesting feature is the small furrows that are located on the muzzle of a toothy predator. Their main function is to enhance the sensitivity of receptors thatcapture odors. Thanks to this, the shark can smell the blood or smell of prey at a great distance, which sometimes exceeds tens of kilometers.
On the brink of extinction
Be that as it may, the blue shark is a beautiful and strong animal that does much less harm to a person than he does to her. Soups from shark fins, so loved by many gourmets, became the reason for their mass extermination. The authorities are taking all possible measures. Despite this, the population of these majestic marine inhabitants is inevitably declining. Unfortunately, everything depends on the consciousness of each person individually. However, there is still a ghostly hope that the blue shark will never disappear from the pages of history.
