Whitetip reef shark
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Whitetip reef shark
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Carcharhinidae Genus: Triaenodon Müller & Henle, 1837 Species: T. obesus
Binomial name
Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)

Sharks portal

The whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, the only member of the genus Triaenodon.

Habitat and distribution

The whitetip reef shark is one of the most common sharks found in shallow tropical and warm temperate water around coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It occurs at depths down to 330 metres (1,100 ft). Snorkelers often encounter these sharks.

Anatomy and appearance

Whitetip reef shark head.

As its name suggests, the tips of the shark's first dorsal fin and upper caudal fin are white. The upper body is grey/brownish. Their average length is about 140 to 160 centimetres (55 to 63 in) and the maximum reported length is 2.1 metres (6.9 ft).¹ Its head is broad and flat.

Diet

The whitetip reef shark feeds primarily on crustaceans, octopusi, and fish.

Behavior

This bottom dwelling shark is nocturnal and is often seen resting on the bottom during the day, sometimes in small groups. It is not aggressive and will generally swim away if disturbed, although it may bite if harassed. At night it hunts among crevices in the reef.

Reproduction

Reproduction is viviparous, with one to five pups in a litter, the gestation period being at least five months. The shark's size at birth ranges from 50 centimetres (20 in) to 60 centimetres (24 in). It is estimated that this shark can live for about 25 years and it reaches maturity after about five years.

See also

A whitetip reef shark swimming around a reef.

• List of sharks

References

• Smale (2000). Triaenodon obesus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
• Triaenodon obesus (TSN 160453). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 23 January 2006.
• "Triaenodon obesus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 10 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
• Triaenodon obesus at the Encyclopedia of Life
• Community monitoring of reef sharks in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea 2008 Australian Underwater Federation

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Triaenodon obesus

• ARKive - images and movies of the whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
• Whitetip Reef shark, Trianodon obesus MarineBio"