Whitetip Reef Shark

Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Max Size

Total length 2 metres

Max Weight

20 kg

Detail Information

Bottom-dwelling nocturnal predator. Commonly found around coral reefs in tropical waters.

White tips on first dorsal and caudal fins

Whitetip reef sharks have a slender, torpedo-shaped body typical of requiem sharks. They have white tips on their first dorsal and caudal fins, making them easy to identify.

Whitetip reef sharks have a unique breathing adaptation. Unlike many requiem sharks that need to constantly move to breathe, they are capable of laying motionless on the seabed, pumping water into their mouths to aerate their gills.

Bottom dwellers

Whitetip reef sharks can be found in tropical waters, particularly around coral reefs. They often gather in small groups, hiding in small caves or beneath table corals. After every night’s hunt, they usually return to the same hiding spot.

The night hunter

Whitetip reef sharks are nocturnal predators. They rest or swim slowly in their hiding spots during the day, and become active at night.

Whitetip reef sharks are relatively slow swimmers. However, their slim bodies allow them to squeeze into crevices and caves in the reef, looking for small bony fishes and cephalopods (octopus, squid, etc.) They sometimes hunt in groups, with several sharks blocking escape routes while another drives prey toward the waiting sharks.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class – Subclass: Chondrichthyes – Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks)
Family: Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)
Species: Triaenodon obesus

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Similar Species

Blacktip Reef Shark

(Carcharhinus melanopterus)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class – Subclass Chondrichthyes – Elasmobranchii

Order Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks)

Family Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)

Species Carcharhinus melanopterus

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