ANIMAL SPECIES:Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)

As its common name suggests, the Whitetip Reef Shark has white tips to some of the fins. The tips of the first dorsal fin and upper caudal fin lobe are always brilliant white. Those of the second dorsal fin and lower caudal fin lobe are sometimes white.

Whitetip Reef Sharks at North Horn

Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Standard Common Name

Whitetip Reef Shark

Identification

The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender species with a short, blunt snout. It is brownish-grey above fading to whitish below. There are scattered dark grey spots on the sides of the body.

The tips of the first dorsal fin and upper caudal fin lobe are brilliant white. The tip of the second dorsal fin and lower caudal fin lobe are sometimes white.

Size range

The species is reported to grow to 2.13 m in length but adults over 1.6 m long are rarely seen.

Distribution

It is found widely throughout the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the southern Queensland coast.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Whitetip Reef Shark specimens in the Australian Museums.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Habitat

It is found in tropical marine waters often associated with coral reefs or lying on the bottom in caves and under ledges.

Danger to humans and first aid

The Whitetip Reef Shark is a curious species that often approaches divers. It is not considered dangerous to people.

Classification

Species:
obesus
Genus:
Triaenodon
Family:
Carcharhinidae
Order:
Carcharhiniformes
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes: 251-655.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology 
Last Updated: 

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus, white tips, white, slender body, short snout, blunt snout, browinsh-grey, white underside, dark grey spots, dots/spots, > 2m, marine, adult, Indo-Pacific,

 0  0  0  0  0