Biology A highly active, usually offshore pelagic species, occurring from the surface down to at least 150 m. The video captures a few frames of a very large shortfin mako circling the bleeding dolphin. These cases have coincided with the late spring - early summer spawning cycle of swordfish, perhaps suggesting that shortfin makos target these fish at this time whilst the prey is vulnerable at the surface but are nevertheless prone to aggressive defensive attack by their quarry. Trans-Atlantic recaptures are nominal, inferring limited interchange between what appear to be two distinct western and eastern populaces. This inference has been further supported by genetic sampling of animals from both sides of the Atlantic.
Females mature at ca.