The views and opinions expressed or implied in this article are those of the author (or authors) and do not necessarily refl ect the position of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.

We review the biology and ecology of the three known species of thresher shark (Alopiidae) occurring in the Atlantic, Pacifi c, and Indian Oceans: the common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus), bigeye thresher shark (A. superciliosus), and pelagic thresher shark (A. pelagicus). We also present revised data on age, growth, and sexual maturity of the common thresher shark off California. These new data suggest that off the US West Coast, male and female common threshers mature at ϳ303 cm total length (TL) and ϳ5 years of age. The revised von Bertalanffy growth model for combined data (N ϭ 315) produced parameter estimates of L ϱ ϭ 465 cm TL, K ϭ 0.129, and t 0 ϭ -2.88 (asymptotic length, the von Bertalanffy growth coeffi cient, and theoretical age at size zero, respectively). Average maximum reproductive age for females is estimated at around 25 years. These results suggest that the common thresher is the fastest-growing and earliest-maturing of the three species of thresher shark, and attains the largest size.

Between 1983 and 2004, nearly 12 000 shortf in mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), common thresher (Alopias vulpinus) and blue (Prionace glauca) sharks were tagged in the Southern California Bight; however, only 1.97% of these have been returned. One possible reason for this low return rate could be post-release mortality caused by capture stress from the experimental longline. Plasma catecholamine levels were analysed to evaluate stress levels in longline-captured, rod-and-reel-captured and unstressed docile sharks. The mean catecholamine values determined for the three tag–release species ranged from 6539 to 22 079 pg mL–1. The level of adrenaline found in moribund I. oxyrinchus (94 807 pg mL–1) was much higher than in either P. glauca (46 845 pg mL–1) or A. vulpinus (36 890 pg mL–1). In contrast, blood obtained from sharks that were landed within minutes had lower catecholamine values (P. glauca, 889 and 1347 pg mL–1; I. oxyrinchus, 2960 and 3946 pg mL–1, adrenaline and noradrenaline respectively). Among the nine I. oxyrinchus specimens that were recaptured long after their longline capture and release, the highest adrenaline level measured just before release was 33 352 pg mL–1. Because these mako sharks survived sufficiently long to be recaptured, their time-of-release catecholamine levels provide a conservative estimate of ~80% viability on the longline-captured and released population.

Like many other loliginid squid, Doryteuthis (Loligo) opalescens deposits egg cases on the ocean floor. Depending upon temperature, egg cases may persist for 5–12 weeks before the paralarvae hatch. Because of this relatively long duration and squid’s pelagic life history, egg cases provide a practical life stage to survey. During 2001–2002, squid egg beds in Monterey Bay, Carmel Bay, and around the California Channel Islands were surveyed using a remotely operated vehicle with the goal of delineating the habitat of egg beds that are spawned during active commercial fishing. Egg cases were highly aggregated and densities reached 1338 capsules m−2. Squid eggs were significantly shallower in Central California. Egg cases occurred between 20 and 93 m around the Channel Islands, and in Central California they were between 13 and 61 m. The temperatures in both regions were similar (10–12 °C), with some eggs in Southern California found up to 14.4 °C. Ninety‐five percent of eggs were found on sand, suggesting that temperature and substrate are stronger behavioral cues than depth to stimulate spawning. Suitable spawning habitat was defined by three criteria: sandy benthic substrate, temperatures between 10 and 14.4 °C, and depths between 20 and 70 m when the first two criteria hold. Additionally, within this defined area, oxygen concentration is quantified. The greatest commercial landings of market squid occur in both Central and Southern California during a time of year when water temperatures of 10–12 °C are prevalent in the 20–70 m depth range.