Which shark is widely regarded as the fastest swimmer?

The shortfin mako shark is widely regarded as the fastest shark swimmer.

Built for speed, the shortfin mako has a streamlined body, a pointed snout, a crescent-shaped tail, and powerful muscles that help it accelerate rapidly. Estimates commonly place its maximum speed near 70 kilometres per hour, although exact top-speed measurements vary because wild sharks are difficult to track directly.

This shark lives in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. It hunts active prey such as tuna, mackerel, squid, and other fish, and its speed allows it to pursue some of the fastest animals in the open sea. It can also leap completely out of the water.

The shortfin mako is different from the longfin mako, which has longer pectoral fins and is generally slower. It is also sometimes confused with the great white, another fast lamnid shark, but the mako is usually identified as the speed champion.