How do thresher sharks use their long tails to catch fish?

Thresher sharks (genus Alopias) utilize their distinct, scythelike tails—which can account for nearly half of their total body length—as specialized tools to hunt schooling fishes and squid.12

To capture their prey, these sharks employ the following methods:

• Herding: Thresher sharks circle their prey to corral them into a small, concentrated group. They may also flail or "thresh" the water surface with their long tails to frighten the fish and keep them tightly packed, making them easier to consume.123
• Stunning: Beyond herding, these sharks have been observed using their tails to deliver a rapid, powerful strike to stun larger individual fish, rendering them vulnerable to attack.12

This unique hunting behavior allows the shark to efficiently exploit open-water prey such as mackerel, herring, and bonito.2