Sealife guideThe blacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Taxonomy
- Common name: Blacktip reef shark
- French name: Requin pointe noire
- Scientific name: Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
- Family name: Carcharhinidae
- Order name: Carcharhiniformes
- Class name: Elasmobranchii
Description
The blacktip reef shark, with its gray back and whitish belly, is particularly recognizable by the black tip of its dorsal fin. The blacktip reef shark can reach up to 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to around 22 pounds.
The blacktip reef shark is recognizable by the black tip on its fin ! © Carol Buchanan | Dreamstime.com
Range
The blacktip reef shark is found in the subtropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean, ranging from the eastern coasts of Africa to Hawaii and the Tuamotu archipelago, including the Maldives and French Polynesia. It is also present in the Red sea and via the Suez Canal, in the Mediterranean sea.
Habitat
The blacktip reef shark inhabits shallow lagoon waters or the edges of lagoons near reefs, but it can also be found at depths of up to 246 feet.
Typically, the blacktip reef shark frequents the same reef areas and may live in groups of several individuals.
Diet
The blacktip reef shark primarily feeds on various types of fish, as well as crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks.
The blacktip reef shark accompanied by its faithful remoras !
Reproduction
The blacktip reef shark is viviparous. After a 9-month gestation period, the female gives birth to a litter of 2 to 4 pups, each measuring around 16 inches, although they grow very slowly afterward.
Did you know ?
The blacktip reef shark cannot remain stationary without risking suffocation, as it needs to constantly move to generate a water current through its gills to supply the oxygen needed for breathing.
The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) © Carol Buchanan | Dreamstime.com
The blacktip reef shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The blacktip reef shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2020 within the category Vulnerable !
Within the same genus
Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
Bull shark
(Carcharhinus leucas)
(Carcharhinus leucas)
Galapagos shark
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Grey reef shark
(Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
(Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Oceanic whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Within the same family
Blue shark
(Prionace glauca)
(Prionace glauca)
Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)
(Negaprion brevirostris)
Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)
(Triaenodon obesus)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
Explore also
Small-spotted catshark
(Scyliorhinus canicula)
(Scyliorhinus canicula)
Horn shark
(Heterodontus francisci)
(Heterodontus francisci)
Zebra bullhead shark
(Heterodontus zebra)
(Heterodontus zebra)
Leopard shark
(Triakis semifasciata)
(Triakis semifasciata)
Basking Shark
(Cetorhinus maximus)
(Cetorhinus maximus)
Pyjama shark
(Poroderma africanum)
(Poroderma africanum)
Ornate wobbegong
(Orectolobus ornatus)
(Orectolobus ornatus)
Banded houndshark
(Triakis scyllium)
(Triakis scyllium)
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