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Other
names:
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blue whaler, great blue, blue dog
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Scientific
name:
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Prionace
glauca
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Genus:
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CARCHINIDAE
FAMILY
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Inhabits cool temperate seas, often near the surface, but usually
submerged to depths of 110 to 170 fathoms in the tropics areas with warm
water currents, 50º-68ºF (10º-20ºC).
The blue shark is usually replaced
as the common large pelagic shark in areas of warm surface water. It is
present in Mediterranean, absent from the Baltic and Red Seas, and absent
or extremely rare in the Gulf of Mexico.
It is easily recognizable by its brilliant blue color. It
is cobalt or indigo blue dorsally, lightening to bright blue and white
on the belly.
Larger teeth of the upper jaw are "saber-shaped" with one broadly convex,
the other concave. The teeth are serrated along the edges. Those in the
lower jaw are narrower and very sharp. The keels and spiracles are absent
on this species. They are pelagic, migratory and travel alone.
In spite of its voracious and predatory nature and swiftness in the water,
it sometimes puts up a poor fight when hooked. Fishing methods include
chumming with live or dead baits or trolling. Baits include squid, eels,
mackerel herring and other live or whole fishes as well as cut baits.
The blue shark is viviparous, giving birth to 50 or mom young at a time
Maturity occurs at a length of 7 or 8 feet (2.0 to 2.3 m).
Although edible, if does not rate high as table fare. All sharks begin
to smell strongly of ammonia once urea decomposition sets in and, consequently,
they require prompt preparation if they are to be eaten.
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