Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
In the world of lamniforms, the megalodon (Otodus megalodon) and the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) are the ones people are the most familiar with, due to their large size and the public’s view on sharks as being ferocious predators. Others in the order that will probably never get as much recognition are the smallest of all lamniforms: the crocodile shark (Pseudocarcharias kamoharaikamoharai), salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis) and the porbeagle (Lamna nasus). Others include the threshers (Alopias), goblin (Mitsukurina owstoni), megamouth(Megachasma pelagios), sand tigers (Carcharias and Odontaspis), and the subject of this review, the makos (Isurus). Isurus consists of 2 species: the longfin mako (I. paucus) and the shortfin mako (I. oxyrinchus). Makos are the fastest of all sharks, reaching speeds of 74 kilometers an hour which has earned them the title ‘cheetah of the sea’. These sharks are large, reaching an average of 300 cm with the longfin reaching up to 427 cm and the shortfin reaching 445 cm. Unlike most fish and like its larger relative, the great white shark, makos are partially warm-blooded and are able to regulate their body temperature. Both species of mako look almost identical except in the proportion of the pectoral fins, with the longfins having longer pectorals and the shortfin having shorter, but still quite long, pectoral fins in proportion to its body compared to some other sharks. These sharks feed on fast-moving prey such as tuna, mahi mahi, billfish, squid, other sharks, and sometimes dolphins, too. Large adults are not preyed upon by other animals except for maybe great whites and orcas and of course, us. Humans hunt these sharks for the meat in their fins, despite having high levels of mercury, and sometimes for trophies. This, combined with a late maturity and low reproductive rate, has led to both species be classed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. Like all other large pelagic sharks, makos fare especially poorly when kept in captivity, worse than other pelagic sharks like blues and great whites due to their speed and inability to avoid walls.
About the figure: this mako shark measures about 16 cm from the nose to the top of the caudal fin when stretched out, which puts this figure at the 1:17-1:27 in scale. This mako is a female as evident by the lack of claspers and is posed raised up as if it’s leaping out of the water, similar to the very old Safari version.
The figure is sculpted on a white plastic and has the top in blue which only runs below the eye and the pectoral and pelvic fins, which I wish has gone through at least below the eyes, which the real makos are colored like, and it will be nice if the colors were glossed. The eye is painted a black color and is quite big as seen on the actual animal and the mouth is painted a pink color and the finely-sculpted teeth are painted an off-white color. The teeth don’t look overly blunt, which is a good sign as they are needle-like on life.
While the sculpt may look accurate, at least in the silhouette, I have found 2 gripes: the gill slits should be closer to the eyes as makos, like great whites, are known to have relatively large gill slits in proportion to their bodies, and the caudal fin looks slightly too small. However, I will praise this figure for having a pronounced caudal keel, which its Safari counterpart is missing.
Overall, I think this is the better of the 2 shortfin mako shark figures available on the market, despite its flaws. It’s the cheaper of the two in my location and it has better sculpted teeth, as well as a more pronounced lateral keel. A great addition for anyone who loves sharks and marine life. Both mako shark figures are still in production and I hope on the future that we will see the other species of mako, the longfin, or some other obscure lamniforms like the salmon shark or porbeagle, as I don’t think anyone has made figures on them.
Compared to the 2018 great white shark by Schleich:
Compared to a 1:21 scale Kanan Matsuura:
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