WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Also known as: Blunthead Shark, Light-tip Shark, Light-tipped Shark, Whitetip Shark, White-tipped Reef Shark

VUVulnerableIUCN Red List, 2020
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@fishx6 · Makunudhoo Island Resort, Maldives · August 20061 / 43
01

Overview

Found singly or in small shivers, during the day resting on the bottom of caves, in channels, under ledges, and on sand patches, out at night hunting for food, in areas with strong currents, over coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on fish, benthic invertebrates, and octopus.

Whitetip Reef Sharks are the most common sharks found in warm waters.
Not considered dangerous.

However 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!

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
white tips

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 8
  • Country only · 35
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small shivers, during the day resting on the bottom of caves, in channels, under ledges, and on sand patches, out at night hunting for food, in areas with strong currents, over coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 43

05

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. genusTriaenodon
    7. speciesTriaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Ground-Requim Sharks (Carcharhinidae)