alopius

noun

Meaning

A genus of sharks characterized by a tail fin that can be as long as the rest of their body, used to stun prey.

Examples

  • The Alopius genus includes three distinct species of thresher sharks found in temperate and tropical oceans.
  • Researchers studying Alopius behavior observed the sharks using their elongated tails to herd schools of fish.

Synonyms: thresher shark, shark