This month we're showcasing the robust Porbeagle, one of the only known sharks that may love to play..

Shaped like a rugby ball, this muscular stocky shark is incredibly hydrodynamic and built for endurance. Dark grey-blue in colour with a white belly, they have a pointed snout and large black eyes.

Porbeagle's belong to an elite group of sharks known as the mackerel sharks. These include some of the most powerful and agile sharks in the world, such as the White Shark and Shortfin Mako. This group are endothermic, so can keep themselves nice and warm, due to a remarkable adaptation known as a rete mirabile. This makes them more efficient hunters and able to tolerate colder waters.

Porbeagle's look a lot like White Sharks, so are often mistaken for them. As they're found in UK waters, this has led to many false reports of White Sharks in the UK. But Porbeagle's are around half the size. Although still a large shark, the biggest Porbeagle on record is 3.6m. While the largest White Shark is 6m.

Found worldwide in cold-temperate waters, Porbeagle's are strong swimmers. Travelling thousands of miles in search of food and to give birth. One individual, tagged in Irish waters, journeyed over 2,000 miles to Newfoundland in Canada. A known mating ground for Porbeagle's.

Porbeagle's may live on their own, or in small groups made up of similar sized or same sex individuals. With males and females coming together usually in September-November to mate. Yet in some places this can take place in January.

These sharks reproduce slowly, so are extremely vulnerable to destructive fishing. Females take 12-16 years to reach sexual maturity, males 6-10 years. After 8-9 months, females will give birth to litters of just 1-5 pups, which are relatively large at 60-80cm long.

Two distinct populations exist - the north Atlantic and south Pacific. Individuals from these areas don't seem to mix, resulting in key differences. North Atlantic Porbeagle's get a lot bigger, and don't tend to live as long as those in the south Pacific.

During the day Porbeagles tend to spend their time in deeper waters, rising to the surface at night. They're opportunistic feeders, mostly eating small fish - such as mackerel, whiting and herring - as well as octopus, squid and cuttlefish.

Highly inquisitive, Porbeagles have been seen chasing each other, rolling at the surface, and even pushing around floating objects and kelp. Could they be playing? Currently there are no scientific studies to back this up. But what an interesting study that would be...!

• SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lamna nasus
  
  
• FAMILY: Mackerel Sharks (Lamnidae)
  
  
• MAXIMUM SIZE: 3.6m
  
  
• DIET: Small fish & squid
  
  
• DISTRIBUTION: Wide-ranging in temperate waters (except North Pacific).
  
  
• HABITAT: Coastal and oceanic waters from 0-1,800m deep. Prefers temperatures below 18°C but can tolerate -1–23°C.
  
  
• CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable
  
  

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Related Links:

► Check out more incredible sharks and rays covered in our Creature Features

► Discover more fin-tastic facts by visiting our Discover Sharks section


Image banner: Porbeagle © Doug Perrine/Alamy