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The pelagic thresher shark (A, pelagicus) and the Pacific bigeye thresher (A. profundus) are found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic bigeye thresher (A. superciliosus) occurs in the Atlantic. The longtail thresher (A. vulpinus) is found worldwide in warm to cool temperate zones.

They are generally pelagic though they do come in close to shore. The longtail and pelagic threshers occur near the surface and the bigeye threshers inhabit deep water - their large eyes undoubtedly aiding them in seeing at greater depths.

They are easily recognized because the upper lobe of the tail is usually as long as the rest of the body (appreciably longer in A. vulpinus). The teeth are small and pointed with broad bases, and the skin is smoother than that of most other sharks.

Threshers are a solitary species but it is not uncommon for them to congregate when large schools of bait fish are available and occasionally hunt in pairs. their diet is known to include mackerel, menhaden, garish, needlefish and bluefish. Typically a thresher will slap or thrash the water with its tail to herd bait fish into a mass then use its tail to stun or injure individual fish before swallowing them.

They are very active fighters when hooked and the longtail thresher has been known to leap clear of the water. Fishing methods include trolling in marlin fashion or deep trolling or drifting, depending on the species to be caught. Whole baits, strip baits, live yellowtail, snapper, or mullet may be used as well as feathers, Konaheads, knuckleheads, or other baits or lures which are generally used for marlin or tuna.