Beware of the Thresher Shark Tail

The thresher shark may just be the coolest shark in the ocean. They are easily recognizable by their enormous, whip-like tails which can be as long as the rest of their entire bodies. But this tail isn’t just for show—it’s a powerful tool to hunt prey. While it had long been rumored that threshers hunted with their tails, it wasn’t until 2010 that scientists were able to observe the behavior in the wild. They discovered that thresher sharks will charge their prey, and then sling their tails up and over their heads like whip. It happens so quickly that their prey are left stunned or even blown into pieces.

Despite their incredible adaptations, thresher sharks face serious threats from human activities. Overfishing and habitat destruction both pose major risks to their populations.