Join Donate
Donate Join
Photograph of the Pelagic Thresher

Pelagic Thresher

Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935

Endangered
© Annika Persson
Maximum length
4.3 m

Meet the Pelagic Thresher

The Pelagic Thresher Shark is a remarkable species known for its long, whip-like tail used for stunning prey, and it is typically found in open ocean waters.

What they eat
Small fishes and cephalopods.

How big do they get?

Pelagic Thresher · 4.3 m
Human diver · 1.8 m
The Pelagic Thresher grows to around 4.3 m at most: the bars compare its maximum recorded length with a diver.

Where they live

Map of the known distribution of the Pelagic Thresher
Known distribution

Distribution

Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Habitat

Oceanic, wide ranging.

In the wild

  • A diver photographing sharks in open water
    Recorded on a Shark Trust survey dive
  • An angel shark resting on the seabed
    Resting on a sandy seabed
  • A clownose ray swimming over the seabed
    Cruising close to the sea floor
  • A group of rays gliding through shallow water
    In the shallows at dusk
  • A Port Jackson shark on a reef
    Sheltering on the reef

Go deeper

Conservation status

Endangered Global

Take the guides with you

Make waves from your inbox

Sign up for the latest shark news, campaigns and simple ways to help, delivered straight to you.