Whitetip Reef Shark

ID points

• White tips on the first dorsal fin and the upper tail lobe
• Slender body, flattened head and a short blunt snout
• Rests by day in piles on the floor of reef caves

Basics

Family

Carcharhinidae

Length

140–180 cm

Depth

1-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific tropical coral reefs

Habitat

Coral reef caves and ledges

Diet

Fish, octopus, lobster

Easily confused with

Blacktip Reef SharkEvery fin tip carries a bold black blotchCaribbean Reef SharkStout body, first dorsal fin starting over the rear edge of the pectoral finsOceanic Whitetip SharkPectoral fins and first dorsal fin very long with rounded tips

Fun fact

Whitetip reef sharks spend the day resting in caves and crevices in the reef, and only come out in groups after dark to hunt fish and octopus. They have a powerful homing instinct for the place they were born, and many spend a whole lifetime on the same stretch of reef.

More in this family

• Blue Shark
• Bull Shark
• Grey Reef Shark
• Lemon Shark
• Silky Shark
• Tiger Shark