{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "thresher-shark",
  "name": "Thresher Shark",
  "scientificName": "Alopias vulpinus",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "The thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is an open-ocean predator famous for its enormously long, whip-like tail, which can be almost as long as its body. Found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, it can reach about 5 m in length including the tail and weigh 150 to 250 kg. It swims at up to 48 km/h and uses its tail to stun small fish and squid. The species lives up to 25 years and is listed as Vulnerable.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Chondrichthyes",
    "order": "Lamniformes",
    "family": "Alopiidae",
    "genus": "Alopias"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 200,
    "lengthM": 5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 48,
    "lifespanYears": 25
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Alopias vulpinus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — small fish and squid"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Temperate and tropical open oceans worldwide"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "19–25 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "150–250 kg (330–550 lb); tail adds length"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 48 km/h (30 mph); tail slap stuns prey"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Circumglobal in temperate and tropical open oceans — common threshers in Atlantic and Pacific.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "Oceans",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Alopias vulpinus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Alopias%20vulpinus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Alopias vulpinus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Alopias_vulpinus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/thresher-shark/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/thresher-shark/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}