 It is often confused with the common thresher ("A. vulpinus"), even in professional publications, but can be distinguished by the dark, rather than white, color over the bases of its pectoral fins.The smallest of the three thresher species, the pelagic thresher typically measures 3 m (10 ft) long.The diet of the pelagic thresher consists mainly of small midwater fishes, which are stunned with whip-like strikes of its tail.