The Mako Is the Fastest Shark in the Sea
A mako is a large fast shark. Its name comes from the Maori language of New Zealand.
A mako is a large, fast-swimming shark found in warm and temperate seas. The shortfin mako is the fastest shark measured, reaching bursts of around 70 kilometres an hour, and it is one of the few sharks that keep their body warmer than the surrounding water. That warmth lets the muscles work faster than a cold-blooded fish could manage. The name came into English from Maori, one of relatively few Maori words in general scientific use.
- A fast shark. *A shortfin mako.*
- Warm-bodied. *Partly endothermic.*
- Maori — *mako*. *The source.*
- Related to the great white. *The family.*
- Up to 70 km/h. *In bursts.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mako | A mako. |
| Plural | makos | Makos. |
| Compound | shortfin mako | A shortfin mako. |
| Maori | mako | The shark. |
| Family | Lamnidae | Lamnidae. |
- A mako struck the bait.Fishing.
- It is the fastest shark.Fact.
- The name is Maori.Etymology.
Warm-blooded fish
- Makos, great whites and tuna retain muscle heat
- A network of blood vessels recycles warmth rather than losing it at the gills
- Warm muscle contracts faster, allowing higher speed
- It also lets them hunt in colder water
- The arrangement is called a rete mirabile
Maori *mako*, the shark, recorded in English from the 1700s.
How fast is a mako shark?
Bursts of around 70 kilometres an hour, making it the fastest shark measured.
Are any sharks warm-blooded?
Partly. Makos and great whites retain muscle heat using a network of blood vessels, letting their muscles work faster.