The whitetip reef shark often does not react to swimmers or divers unless approached, in which case it flees or keeps a distance between itself and the people involved. Whitetip Reef Sharks Silvertip Reef Shark Although they only grow to about 1.6 to 3 meters (5 to 10 feet) in length, these sharks are the apex predators on the very delicate coral reefs. When the people are gone, this habitat seems deserted. The Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon Obesus), is a species of requiem shark, and the only member of its genus.The Whitetip reef shark gets its name because of the white tips on its first dorsal fin and caudal fin.This shark has a slim body, with a short, wide head, a … The Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), is a large species of requiem shark, in the genus Carcharhinus.The Oceanic whitetip reef shark reaches a maximum length of 4 metres, and can weigh as much as 170 kg (370 pounds). (Compagno, 2005) It prefers caves and coral reefs, often be found resting by the bottom of the ocean by day and hunting by night (Compagno, 2005). The Oceanic Whitetip Shark is a large shark found worldwide in the pelagic regions of the sea – meaning the upper areas of the open ocean. More about Whitetip Reef Shark . Its stocky body is most notable for its long, white-tipped, rounded fins. 49562, 51119). The Whitetip Reef Shark is a smaller, greyish brown shark with a distinctive white tip on its dorsal and caudal fins. They occupy the intermediate position on the evolutionary tree of carcharhinids. ... Habitat. It is found in tropical marine waters often associated with coral reefs or lying on the bottom in caves and under ledges. Its restricted habitat, depth range, small litter size and moderately late age at maturity suggest that, with increasing fishing pressure, this species may become threatened . Based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis, the whitetip reef shark is a close relative to the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) and the sliteye shark (Loxodon). Today, the Trump administration announced the oceanic whitetip shark will be listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, the first shark species to receive these protections in Atlantic continental U.S. waters. Habitat. Overview — The whitetip reef shark does indeed have white tips on its dorsal and caudal fins, giving the fins a sort of matchstick appearance because the white contrasts with their tough, dark gray skin. Oceanic whitetip shark: ten facts. However because of their slow reproduction rate, late age maturity and limited habitat, any human interference has a big effect. WHITETIP REEF SHARK Triaenodon obesus Habitat: Whitetip reef sharks typically are found resting in caves and under ledges. Coral reef poster. Similar species: The whitetip reef shark is easily distinguished from other carcharhinids by its slender body and habits. STATUS In 2013, the Oceanic whitetip shark was placed on CITES Appendix II. Its most outstanding feature is the white tip in the dorsal and tail fin.In length, it can reach up to 244 cm (96 in). Primarily nocturnal, they shelter in caves by day and often return to a home cave for periods of days, weeks or more. Habitat. This species is recognized by its broad head and slender body, and it is one of the smallest sharks of its species. Habitat and distribution. The habitat preferences of this species overlap those of the other two, though it does not tend to frequent very shallow water like the blacktip reef shark, nor the outer reef like the grey reef shark. From the surface to 330m but usually found between 5-40m. Scientific Name: Carcharhinus longimanus Characteristics: This thick-bodied shark features a wide, blunt snout and long, rounded pectoral and dorsal fins. It avoids close contact with humans, swimming off when approached by swimmers and divers. Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837) Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837) This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Diet. Carcharhinus longimanus, as it is known by its scientific name, or silvertip shark, as it is commonly referred to, the oceanic whitetip is a large pelagic requiem shark that usually inhabits certain tropical and temperate waters. Scuba pioneer Jacques Cousteau once called the oceanic whitetip “the most dangerous of all sharks,” but divers with extensive shark experience tend to have a more nuanced take on the species. Average adult size: Adults can grow to be 7 feet long. Their preferred habitat is in caves and crevices at coral reefs. The whitetip reef shark is a curious species that often approaches divers. Whitetip Reef Sharks coexist with two other very similar sharks, the Blacktip Reef shark and the Grey Reef Shark. Zebra shark. This animal has a restricted habitat and depth range, have small litters and moderately mature late. Zebra moray. Whitetip reef shark's description Whitetip reef shark is a relatively small species, few whitetip reef sharks are longer than 1.6 m (5.2 ft). The shark has a flat snout unlike other species which tend to have a much more pointed snout. 244); usually 2 or 3 pups after a gestation period of > 5 months (Ref.58048).Size at birth 52-60 cm TL (Ref. The oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), also known as Brown Milbert's sand bar shark, brown shark, lesser white shark, nigano shark, oceanic white-tipped whaler, and silvertip shark, is a large pelagic requiem shark inhabiting tropical and warm temperate seas. 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