Sharks portal
Not to be confused with oceanic whitetip shark.
The whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, the only member of the genus Triaenodon.
Contents
- 1 Habitat and distribution
- 2 Anatomy and appearance
- 3 Diet
- 4 Behavior
- 5 Reproduction
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 External links
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 m. 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 cm and the maximum reported length is 2.1 m (7 ft). 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 to 60 cm. 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.
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