Streamlined and built for speed, the porbeagle shark is a powerful predator found in the cold and temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and Southern Hemisphere. While it may resemble its relative the white shark, it doesn′t grow to be nearly as large.
Porbeagle sharks are mackerel sharks, like white sharks and mako sharks, and they share similar features: a pointed snout and a crescent tail. They can grow to be up to 3.6 meters (12 feet) long and weigh up to 230 kilograms (500 pounds). Like its relatives, porbeagle sharks can maintain a body temperature that is higher than the surrounding water, a trait rare in fish. This ability helps the shark maintain fast speeds in cold water to chase down prey like fish and squid.
These sharks undertake seasonal migrations from coastal waters in the summer to deeper waters in the winter. Despite being sometimes observed alone, they are one of the few sharks known to show playful behavior. They may playfully chase each other or interact with floating objects together.