Thresher sharks are incredibly shy, but can be very friendly. The thresher shark is known for its large eyes and long tail that can be almost as long as the shark itself. Thresher sharks can live anywhere from 19 to 50 years. There are three different types of thresher sharks: common thresher shark, pelagic thresher shark, and bigeye threshers. Common threshers are the largest out of the three types, growing up to 19 feet long. Pelagic threshers can only reach up to 3 feet. Bigeye threshers can grow up to 13 feet. Common and bigeye threshers can be found in all of the oceans, while pelagic threshers are only found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Threshers main defense is their tail, which they can essentially whip around, creating shock waves to immobilize schools of fish. The thresher sharks are one of the fastest creatures that reside in the ocean, reaching speeds up to 22 miles per hour. A cool fact about thresher sharks are that they have an adaptation called regional endothermy, which allows them to maintain their body temperature to be that of the surrounding water so they can reach deeper depths up to almost 5,000 feet deep.
Currently, threshers are considered endangered. The amount of threshers the last few years have been decreasing greatly, mostly due to finning and harvesting them for their fins and skin. They are not dangerous to humans, but some people see them as threats, choosing to kill them. There is a chance that a thresher shark will attack a boat, but only if the boat is invading their home. Their meat and fins from a thresher shark have good commercial value. Their hides are used for leather and their liver oil is used for vitamins. Fisherman from Japan, Spain, Brazil, the USA, along with a few other places, normally catch these sharks.