Which shark uses its long tail to stun prey?

The thresher shark uses its long tail to stun prey. Its greatly elongated upper caudal fin acts like a flexible whip, allowing the shark to strike schooling fish and temporarily incapacitate them before feeding.

This hunting technique is especially useful against groups of small, fast-moving fish such as mackerel, sardines, and other pelagic species. Threshers may circle or herd a school, then slap the water with the tail to create a powerful shock and strike several fish in quick succession.

There are three living thresher shark species: the common thresher, bigeye thresher, and pelagic thresher. The tail is the feature that most clearly distinguishes them from sharks such as makos, hammerheads, and great whites. Despite their dramatic hunting style, threshers are not usually considered a danger to humans. Their long tails also help them maneuver and may propel them during occasional breaches from the water.