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A large, heavy-bodied shark of fusiform shape, with
crescentic tail and conical snout.
First dorsal fin
broadly triangular, with its origin above or slightly
posterior to the axil ('armpits') of the pectoral fins.
Second dorsal fin is very small, lying slightly ahead of
the equally-small anal fin; there are strong caudal
keels.
Vertebral count is between 172-187.
Teeth are
essentially broad and triangular, with notably serrate
margins, distinguishing this species from the other lamnids
(which all have smooth-edged teeth); tooth count 23-28 in
upper jaw, 21-25 in lower.
Newborns have narrower
teeth, with basal cusps on the lower jaw teeth.
Colour typically slate-grey or olive-brown above, often
with a bronzy sheen on the flanks; a strong, variable and
blotchy line of demarcation separates the dark upper and white
lower surfaces; underside of pectoral fins tipped with black;
a black, oval blotch often present in the axil of the
pectorals although this is sometimes absent on Mediterranean
specimens. |
