Sealife guideThe caribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus perezi

Last updated on 08/22/2024 at 10:37 PM
Taxonomy
  • Common name: Caribbean reef shark
  • French name: Requin de récif des Caraibes, requin caraïbe, requin de récif
  • Spanish name: Tiburón coralino
  • Scientific name: Carcharhinus perezi (Poey, 1876)
  • Family name: Carcharhinidae
  • Order name: Carcharhiniformes
  • Class name: Elasmobranchii
Description
The Caribbean reef shark can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh up to 154 pounds. This large streamlined shark has a gray body, a ridge between the dorsal fins and a short blunt snout. Its first dorsal fin is small with a similarly small rear edge.
The Caribbean reef shark is a large, streamlined shark with a gray body
The Caribbean reef shark is a large, streamlined shark with a gray body
Geographic range
The Caribbean reef shark is widely distributed in all tropical waters in the western Atlantic Ocean, from southern Florida to northern Brazil, including the many islands of the Caribbean. It is especially common in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico where it frequents the many scattered reefs.
The Caribbean reef shark is very common in the Bahamas.
Habitat
The Caribbean reef shark can be found from the surface down to about 200 feet, but it generally prefers depths of no more than 100 feet. As its name suggests, it frequents the reef zones of tropical waters. It typically swims in shallow waters or near the drop-offs on the outer edges of coral reefs.
Diet
The Caribbean reef shark primarily feeds on reef fish from the Priacanthidae fish family, which are characterized by their large eyes, earning them the nickname « bigeye » in english, as well as on rays and cephalopods.
The Caribbean reef shark frequents coral reefs
The Caribbean reef shark frequents coral reefs
Reproduction
The Caribbean reef shark is viviparous. After a gestation period of one year, the female gives birth to about half a dozen young sharks, which are already around 2 feet in length. The young males will reach sexual maturity at around 5.2 feet in length, while females will need to grow between 6.5 to 10 feet before reaching maturity.
Did you know ?
The Caribbean reef shark is consumed by humans in various cooked dishes. Due to overfishing, its population is declining in several areas, and the species is considered near-threatened by the IUCN !
A common sight in the Bahamas: the Caribbean reef shark !
A common sight in the Bahamas: the Caribbean reef shark !
Within the same genus
Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Bull shark
(Carcharhinus leucas)
Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
Copper shark
(Carcharhinus brachyurus)
Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
Dusky shark
(Carcharhinus obscurus)
Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Grey reef shark
(Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
Sandbar shark
(Carcharhinus plumbeus)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Within the same family
Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
Blue shark
(Prionace glauca)
Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris)
Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)
Discover also
Bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo)
Bonnethead shark
(Sphyrna tiburo)
Dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus)
Dark shyshark
(Haploblepharus pictus)
Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus)
Leafscale gulper shark
(Centrophorus squamosus)
Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Nurse shark
(Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Ornate wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus)
Ornate wobbegong
(Orectolobus ornatus)
Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Port Jackson shark
(Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Puffadder shyshark
(Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
Zebra shark
(Stegostoma fasciatum)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Azure vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera)
Azure vase sponge
(Callyspongia plicifera)
Blue chromis (Azurina cyanea)
Blue chromis
(Azurina cyanea)
Checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus)
Checkered puffer
(Sphoeroides testudineus)
Glasseye snapper (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Glasseye snapper
(Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris)
Green moray eel
(Gymnothorax funebris)
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Leatherback sea turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)
Princess parrotfish
(Scarus taeniopterus)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

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