Gray Reef Shark

Up to 8 ft, generally under 6 ft (maximum reported in Hawaii, 6.2 ft)

Family	Carcharhinidae
Description	Requiem sharks
Environment	Fresh, Brackish & Marine
Etymology	Greek, karcharos, -ou = cutting, sharp and also a kind of shark + Greek, rhinos = nose
Genus	12
No. of Species	59
Order	Carcharhiniformes
Class	Elasmobranchii
Reproductive Guild	Bearers
Distribution	Global. Gill openings 5, the fifth behind origin of pectoral fin. Small to large sharks with round eyes, internal nictitating eyelids, no nasoral grooves or barbels, usually no spiracles. Teeth usually bladelike with one cusp. Development usually viviparous with young born fully developed. Includes several dangerous species, but most prefer to avoid divers.

Hawaiian records show caught from surface to 900 ft but most abundant at 320 ft; more common in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; tends to prefer reef areas with rugged terrain and strong currents. Occurs on continental and insular shelves and oceanic waters adjacent to them. Common on coral reefs, often in deeper areas near drop-offs to the open sea, in atoll passes, and in shallow lagoons adjacent to areas of strong currents. Coastal-pelagic near the bottom, near drop-offs at 1-275 m. Forms daytime schools or aggregations in favored areas (Ref. 244). Although active during the day, it is more active nocturnally. Viviparous, with 1-6 pups. Feeds on reef fishes, squids, octopi, crabs, lobsters and shrimps. Tends to be aggressive under baited conditions and readily enters into a frenzy feeding pattern, at which time it may become quite dangerous. Repeatedly incriminated in human attacks.

Gray with a slight white streak on the back edge of the dorsal fin and an easy-to-see black margin on the trailing edge of the tail; no inter-dorsal ridge. Eats bony fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Dark grey or bronze-grey above, white below; caudal fin with a conspicuous wide black posterior margin; undersides of pectoral and pelvic fins with black tips and posterior margins, but fins otherwise not conspicuously black or white-tipped except for white-tipped first dorsal in some individuals

Viviparous, placental. 1-6 pups in a litter. Gestation period about 12 months. Size at birth 50 to 60 cm or 75 cm. Distinct pairing with embrace

Summary of Distribution: Indo-West Pacific to Central Pacific: Madagascar and the Mauritius-Seychelles area to Tuamoto Archipelago; north to southern China; south to northern Australia.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)