Makos have been known to feed on dolphins, porpoise and blue sharks and are known for being able to leap high into the air. Both types of mako are heavily built with the trademark strong caudal keels that are a common feature among lamnids such as white sharks, porbeagles and salmon sharks. Long-fin makos are apparently a more deep water tropics dwelling predator of which little is known. It wasn't even described as a separate species until 1966. Both models of mako are of striking coloration.
Dorsal surfaces are a deep purplish indigo in color, silvery on sides fading to snow white below.
The longfin has a shaded coloration around the mouth and underside of the snout, unlike the shortfin that is snow white around the mouth and under-snout. Only the blue shark can rival the makos for beautiful color. Author Ernest Hemingway also was impressed by the mako shark and depicted it as the marlin marauding heavy in his classic novel the Old Man and the Sea. Author Richard Ellis also wrote an excellent short story about a deep sea contest between a mako and a broadbill swordfish in his popular work the Book of Sharks. Development is oviparous.