Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Phylum

Chordata

 Whitetip Reef Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Carcharhiniformes

Family

Carcharhinidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names :

Whitetip reef shark, Blunthead shark.
Diet : Small reef fish.
Reproduction :

Viviparous : Females give birth to between 1 and 5 live young per litter after 5 to 6 months gestation. The pups are about 55 centimetres at birth.
Size : Maximum 2.1 metres  Average female 1.3 metres Average male 1.3 metres

 

Distribution of Whitetip Reef Shark Distribution : Tropical waters from the Red sea, through the Indian ocean to eastern Pacific. Found in shallow water  along coral reefs.

 

Danger to man : Usually timid and harmless, able to be fed by hand. Some attacks have occurred either by accident or through provocation, though none serious.
Economic Importance : Fished for it's flesh in some areas, although eating this can lead to ciguatera toxin poisoning, which is a severe form of food poisoning affecting the nervous system.
Other Comments : The Whitetip reef shark is the most common reef shark in the Pacific along with the Grey reef and Blacktip reef shark. They are vulnerable to attack from larger sharks and reef groupers.