Read about those sharks, a little about their normal habitat, and whether or not they are dangerous. Porbeagles and salmon sharks are the only two shark species with the secondary keel on the tail. Tropical sharks, such as the great hammerhead and the nurse shark, inhabit ocean regions near the equator.. Polar sharks live in oceans near the polar ice caps. Although the porbeagle is related to the much-feared shortfin mako and white shark, it rarely attacks humans. Whale sharks are filter feeders and sieve plankton through their gills for much of their nourishment. Wherever they live, sharks play an important role in ocean ecosystems—especially the larger species that are more “scary” to people. Sharks may be classified by the surface temperature of the water that they inhabit. Overview — Many sharks and other fish prefer warm water, but porbeagle sharks like to stay cool. Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) The porbeagle shark is fairly widespread and is one of the most cold-tolerant species of sharks in the world. Populations simply cannot replenish at the same rate as they are caught and finned to meet market demand. The white patch, or white back edge of the dorsal is usually very noticeable. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the large and growing demand for shark fins and the general lack of management of shark fishing. They inhabit coastal regions and the open sea. Porbeagle sharks come from the family of Lamnidae sharks and can be found in the the North Atlantic Ocean. One porbeagle shark tagged in Irish waters was later found as far away as Newfoundland in Canada! To learn more visit the Canadian Shark Research Lab,the only lab in Canada dedicated to doing shark research in Canadian waters. Although a member of the great white family of sharks, the porbeagle is not usually thought to be a threat to humans. The porbeagle is a protected species in U.S. waters. They prefer waters that are less than 18 degrees Celsius along continental shelves and in the open sea, and can be found in Canada off of the Atlantic coast. If you’re interested in the Porbeagle Shark and want to help protect them, one of the most powerful things you can do is call your local MP and tell him or her that you support the government’s research on sharks. The tiny second dorsal is directly over, or slightly toward the tail in relation to the anal fin below. Unlike long-fin mako sharks, they can survive in much colder waters and have the ability to raise their body temperature higher than that of the water. The three major classifications are tropical, temperature and polar.. Sharks and their relatives were the first vertebrate predators, and their prowess, honed over millions of years of evolution, allows them to hunt as top predators and keep ecosystems in balance. The Porbeagle Shark is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Photo courtesy NOAA. This is a big advantage for them as it allows them to live and hunt in colder seas than many other sharks. The water is never to cold for a porbeagle to be in New England waters. These are the world’s largest living fish and they can live up to 100 years old and grow to lengths of 40 feet. Like porbeagle sharks, they are unlikely to attack humans unless provoked. Sharks and Water Temperature. They can grow up to 12ft long and weigh up to 600lbs (43-stone) If you've ever wondered what types of sharks live in British waters, you might be surprised to learn just how many there are. Despite the shortness of their pectoral fins, shortfin mako sharks are one of the fastest shark species in the world. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) lists two unprovoked attacks by porbeagles off England and Canada, both on divers and both non-fatal. Like shortfin mako sharks, porbeagles possess a body heat regulatory mechanism that can raise their temperature several degrees higher than that of the surrounding water. These characteristics make sharks, like this porbeagle, particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation. Porbeagle sharks are endothermic, which means they can maintain a higher body temperature and keep themselves warmer than the surrounding water.