White Tip Reef Shark
Triaenodon Obesus
Interesting Facts
- This shark is easily spotted due to its curious, irregular, and waving swimming style and of course, the white tip on its dorsal fin
- These shark is very social, they often lay on the ground in large groups.
Habitat
- This species is found all across the Indo-Pacific region. It is found almost exclusively in coral reef habitats along the coral heads and ledges. Sometimes they can be seen near sandy flats, in lagoons, or near deep drop offs.
- The preferred depth is 8 to 40 meters (26 to 130ft) making this a shallow swimmer.
Hunting
- They hunt at night when most sea animals are sleeping
- They prefer eels, crustaceans, octopus, lobsters, and crabs
- Specializes in wriggling into narrow crevices and holes in the reef and extracting prey inaccessible to other reef sharks.
Reproduction
- Since they are Viviparous, eggs are held in the placenta of the female fish for 10-13 months until birth.
- Females are usually pursued by males for an extended period of time, at which point, the males will initiate contact by grasping the pectoral fin and maneuvering the two of them into proper position.
- Females give birth to 1 to 6 pups at a time and pregnancy lasts for 10 to 13 months.
Threat to humans
- Their threat to humans is minimal
- Relatively harmless species but can spook swimmers and divers
- Frequently swim close by to inspect swimmers but rarely pose any problems
- The meat is toxic but the shark is still near threatened