The Olympics are almost here... so it's a great time to talk about speed.
In a race among the sharks, the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) would be the winner.
The streamlined, but robust, shortfin mako shark has been clocked at 22 mph, although some sources say it can reach up to 60 mph. These sharks may prey on sailfish and swordfish, two of the world's fastest fish species, which can swim over 60 mph (more about them in a future post) - but it isn't clear if the shortfin mako could catch them while swimming at top speed, or perhaps just catches them off guard.
Either way, if a shortfin mako could compete in the Olympics, they'd easily out-swim the fastest human, whose top speed would be a mere 4.5 miles per hour.
Will you be watching the Olympics? What is your favorite sport?
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