WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Nervous Shark

Carcharhinus cautus

Also known as: Nervous Whaler, Sharks Bay Whaler Shark, Whaler Shark

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2020
Adult
@fishx6 · Townsville Aquarium, Australia · November 20201 / 1
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Overview

Found over inshore sandy bottoms, estuaries, and mangrove lined coastlines, in shallow waters, of the continental and insular shelves, but may be found deeper.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans and fish.
Western Pacific - Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Western Australia

This is one of the most common sharks on Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
Occasionally aggressive and dangerous.

Requiem Sharks have some of the most potentially dangerous sharks in their family and are responsible for over half of shark attacks. They can also be difficult to identify!

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How to identify

Fins & Tail
black fin tips

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found over inshore sandy bottoms, estuaries, and mangrove lined coastlines, in shallow waters, of the continental and insular shelves, but may be found deeper.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classElasmobranchii
    4. orderCarcharhiniformes
    5. familyCarcharhinidae
    6. genusCarcharhinus
    7. speciesCarcharhinus cautus (Whitley, 1945)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Ground-Requim Sharks (Carcharhinidae)