WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

Also known as: Brown Milbert's Sandbar Shark, Brown Shark, Nigano Shark, Oceanic Shark, Oceanic White-tipped Whaler, Silvertip Shark, Whitetip, Whitetip Shark, Whitetip Whaler, White-tipped Shark

CRCritically EndangeredIUCN Red List, 2019
DangerousKeep your distance
Adult
@anonymous · Maldives · August 20071 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly often accompanied by dolphinfish, pilot fish, remoras and tortoises over oceanic deep waters but sometimes close to shorelines.
They feed on almost anything, from birds, crustaceans, fish, turtles and any garbage disposed of at sea! Including people.
Widespread Circumglobal

They are very active, fearless and potentially dangerous and have been known to approach divers and boats in the open sea. They have probably been responsible for attacks on people in open water from air and sea disasters.

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

COLOURS
Pattern
white tips

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Worldwide
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly often accompanied by dolphinfish, pilot fish, remoras and tortoises over oceanic deep waters but sometimes close to shorelines.

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Adult photos 2

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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 longimanus (Poey, 1861)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Ground-Requim Sharks (Carcharhinidae)