Whitetip Reef Shark

Up to 7 feet, generally under 5 ft Averages 10-30 pounds; seldom reaches 100.

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.

At depths of about 25-130 ft near coral reefs; seen resting in caves, sometimes for extended periods. Sluggish inhabitant of lagoons and seaward reefs where it is often found resting in caves or under coral ledges during the day, or usually on a sand patch, or in a channel. More active at night or during slack tide in areas of strong currents. Feeds on benthic animals such as fishes, octopi, spiny lobsters and crabs. Viviparous. Travels distances from about 0.3 to 3 km in periods up to about 1 year. Rarely reported to attack humans, but is potentially dangerous especially when fish had been speared. Probably fished wherever it occurs. Caught by inshore longline and gillnet fisheries, and probably adversely affected by dynamite fishing. Meat and liver utilized fresh for human consumption. The liver of this shark has been reported as toxic. One to five 60 cm young per litter.

Gray; slightly flat-headed with small white tips on the tops of the first and second dorsal and tail fins. Eats reef fishes, octopuses, crustaceans. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A small, slender shark with an extremely short, broad snout, oval eyes, and conspicuous white tips on the 1st dorsal (sometimes 2nd) and upper caudal fins; 2nd dorsal almost as large as 1st; no interdorsal ridge. Spiracles usually present, teeth 47-50/ 44-46, in at least 2 functional rows. Grey above, lighter below and sometimes with dark spots on sides. First dorsal-fin lobe and dorsal caudal-fin lobe with conspicuous white tips, second dorsal-fin lobe and ventral caudal-fin lobe often white-tipped.

Viviparous, placental, with 1 to 5 young per litter; usually 2 or 3 pups after a gestation period of > 5 months. Size at birth 52-60 cm TL. Distinct pairing with embrace. During courtship and prior to copulation, the male bites the female on her right pectoral fin and uses his medially flexed right clasper in copulation. During copulation which lasts from 15 seconds to 4 minutes, both heads of the male and female are slammed in the substrate and their bodies undulate to keep their tails elevated. This mating behavior was observed in individuals bred in captivity.

Summary of Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia and the Arafura Sea, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to New South Wales (Australia), New Caledonia, and the Austral and Pitcairn islands; throughout Micronesia. Eastern Pacific: Cocos and Galapagos islands, Panama to Costa Rica.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Spinning, baitcasting and light ocean outfits. Small dead fish and cut baits.