Meet the Preserved Museum Mako Shark (Not a Great White) from the Iconic Jaws Poster

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One of the most renowned artworks in cinematic history is the poster for the film “Jaws“. With merely a one-word title and two figures – a swimmer unaware on the surface and the menacing shark lurking beneath – it conveys an abundance of information. However, interestingly enough, the shark depicted on the poster isn’t the same as the one in the movie; it doesn’t belong to the same species either.

Half a century after its theatrical release, the iconic Jaws poster remains a staple on dormitory walls and media rooms worldwide. Despite countless glances for decades, many of us failed to notice that the shark depicted isn’t actually a great white. This fact is confirmed by Ryan Thoni, an Ichthyology Curatorial Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.

The fish depicted in the post you saw is modeled after a specimen kept right here at the American Museum of Natural History’s ichthyology collection. Contrary to what might be assumed, this isn’t a great white shark, Thoni clarified on Instagram. Instead, it’s a short fin mako shark, and it remains part of our collection even today.

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This version maintains the original’s structure and content while aiming for a more engaging and readable style. It highlights the evolution of the “Jaws” story, its historical significance, and provides an interesting tidbit about Spielberg’s stress relief methods during production.

Artist Roger Kastel studied museum mako sharks to create the poster for Jaws

Illustrator Roger Kastel was a celebrated figure in the realm of movie poster design. Not only did he work on the iconic poster for Jaws, but also contributed art to The Empire Strikes Back and The Great Train Robbery, as well as several other notable productions.

In the 1970s, artist Roger Kastel went to the museum looking for inspiration for a film poster he was creating – the blockbuster Jaws. He snapped pictures of the shark models, including one made from a short fin mako, which eventually served as the central element in the famous movie poster design, according to Thoni.

Mako sharks aren’t identical to great whites, but they belong to the same family, which is often referred to as Mackerel Sharks (Lamnidae). This family encompasses various species such as the short fin mako, long fin mako, salmon shark, porbeagle shark, and the well-known great white.

Shortfin mako sharks inhabit the warm tropical waters globally, reaching lengths of up to 13 feet. This species can live for around 30 years, growing at a relatively slow pace. Males typically reach maturity by age 8 and measure about 6 feet in length, whereas females don’t become mature until they’re approximately 19 years old and attain a size of roughly 9 feet. During reproduction, the eggs develop inside the female’s body, and she gives birth to live young, usually around 12 pups at a time.

Mako sharks are voracious predators that can consume a wide array of prey. They have an exceptional hunting ability that allows them to catch almost anything in their path. Their diet includes cephalopods, various large fish such as swordfish, bluefish, tuna, and other shark species, as well as marine mammals. Their coloring aids camouflage; they have dark blue or gray backs, metallic blue sides, and white undersides which help them blend with the deep waters below and the lighter surface above. They resemble great whites but are smaller, with long gill slits and a pointed snout.

When the mako shark is swimming, its snout proves useful. Known as the fastest shark globally, the mako can exceed 45 miles per hour during quick spurts, a speed achieved through powerful swimming muscles and an aerodynamic body design. Interestingly, makos are swift enough to leap entirely out of the water.

Mako sharks are frequently sought after for fishing and are considered to be overfished. These sharks are well-known for their appearance in shark fin soup, their meat is consumed in certain regions, their skin is utilized for leather, and they are also hunted for oil. Incidents of mako shark attacks on humans are extremely rare – there have only been eight confirmed cases over the past 450 years. Despite their limited interaction with people, mako sharks have made a significant impact in pop culture history due to their fearsome image.

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2025-07-18 20:16