Lamnidae

shark family

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The family Lamnidae, commonly known as mackerel sharks, includes species like the porbeagle and salmon shark. The genus Lamna is the type genus for this family. Mackerel sharks are characterized by their swift, active nature, crescent-shaped tails, and slender teeth.12

These sharks inhabit temperate oceans worldwide. Their diet consists of fish such as herring, mackerel, and salmon. While salmon sharks are considered of least concern by the IUCN, porbeagles are listed as vulnerable due to population declines. Both species are commercially fished for food and can also be caught as bycatch.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

chondrichthyan
Annotated classification
Family Lamnidae (salmon sharks, mako sharks, white sharks, and relatives) Distinguished by 2 dorsal fins, of which the 1st is much larger than the 2nd and the rear end of its base situated well in advance of the pelvic fins; caudal fin lunate (crescent-shaped), its axis…
Read More
Family Lamnidae (salmon sharks, mako sharks, white sharks, and relatives) Distinguished by 2 dorsal fins, of which the 1st is much larger than the 2nd and the rear end of its base situated well in advance of the pelvic fins; caudal fin lunate (crescent-shaped), its axis…
Read More