white tip reef shark

Triaenodon obesus, derives its name from the distinct white tips on the sharks first dorsal and upper caudal fins. Sometimes the other fins have white tips as well. The body of a Whitetip Reef Shark has a dark brown or greyish color, which fades to lighter colors towards the ventral surface. Some individuals have small dark spots over the entire body. The maximum length of the Whitetip Reef Shark is slightly below 7 feet (2.13 m), but the average length is no more than 5.25 feet (1.6 m). The Whitetip Reef Shark can live for more than 25 years.

The Whitetip Reef Shark feed on chiefly on lobsters, crabs and octopus. It is a nocturnal hunter that feed on bottom living animals that live in crevices and caves. The Whitetip Reef Sharks can hunt prey in very small spaces, since they have a blunt snout and are slenderly built. Their skin is tough and the eyes are protected by ridges. The Whitetip Reef Shark also likes to eat bony fish, such as snapper, triggerfish, eel, squirrelfish, surgeonfish, damselfish and parrotfish.

Since the Whitetip Reef Shark is peaceful and has small teeth is not really a threat to humans unless it is attacked. It will usually avoid venturing to close to swimmers and divers, but can be attracted by food. Some scuba divers hand feed Whitetip Reef Sharks, and accidents can naturally occur during such circumstances when the Whitetip Reef Shark becomes excited and accidentally bites the fingers of the scuba diver. Spear fishing can also attract Whitetip Reef Sharks.

The female Whitetip Reef Shark gives birth to live pups after a gestation period of roughly 5 months. A litter will typically consist of 1-5 pups, and each pup will be 50-60 cm (20-23.6 inches). Mating will occur during varying seasons of the year depending of which region the Whitetip Reef Shark inhabits. The male Whitetip Reef Shark will lie very close to the female, and hold her pectoral fins in his mouth. The male inserts one of his claspers into the genital opening of the female and fertilizes her eggs.