Mako Shark

The Mako Shark is a slender shaped shark with a long cone-like snout. This shark has short pectoral fins and a crescent shaped caudal (tail) fin. Its second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first. The teeth are are slender and slightly curved with no flat teeth, and are visible even when the mouth is closed. There is marked countershading on this shark: dorsally it is a metallic indigo blue while ventrally it is white.

The Mako Shark can grow to lengths of 3.9 meters (13 feet). There is still some uncertainty about its life-span, but it is suspected to reach ages of between 11-23 years. As one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, this powerful shark can attain burst swimming speeds of up to 22 mph and can leap clear of the water to heights of up to 20 feet. These qualities have made this species a sought after sport fish in some parts of its range.

The shortfin mako is found worldwide. In the western Atlantic it can be found from Argentina and the Gulf of Mexico to Browns Bank off of Nova Scotia. In Canadian waters these sharks are not abundant as they prefer warm waters. Makos are often found in the same waters as swordfish as they are a source of food and both fish prefer similar environmental conditions.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is the number 7 endangered species on the top 10 list. Unfortunately, this animal follows a pattern that the other species on the list do as well. Its endangered status is mostly due to human involvement. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and their stunning shells. These graceful sea turtles are also threatened by accidental capture in fishing nets.

Like other sea turtles, hawksbills make incredible migrations in order to move from feeding sites to nesting grounds, normally on tropical beaches. Mating occurs every two to three years and normally takes place in shallow waters close to the shore. The nesting procedure begins when the turtles leave the sea to choose an area to lay their eggs. A pit is dug in the sand, filled with eggs, and then covered. At this stage the turtles retreat to the sea, leaving the eggs, which will hatch in about 60 days.The most dangerous time of their lives comes when hatchlings make the journey from their nests to the sea. Crabs and flocks of gulls voraciously prey on the young turtles during this short scamper.

They are normally found near reefs rich in the sponges they like to feed on. Hawksbills are omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish. Their hard shells protect them from many predators, but they still fall prey to large fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and most especially humans. The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is not a man-eating killer, or even a threat to society for that matter. So why do we as humans find it necessary to capture and kill these creatures that only add wonder to our planet?