Stats

Lifespan: 10-13 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Social: School
Biome: Coral reef
Range: Indo-Pacific
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Speed
Status: Vulnerable

About

A slender, fast-moving shark of tropical coral reefs, instantly recognisable by the prominent black tips on all its fins. It is one of the most frequently sighted sharks in shallow reef flats, often hunting in water barely deep enough to cover its dorsal fin.

Life cycle

1.
newborn pup
A pup is born free-swimming and fully formed, hunting on its own from the first day.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile shark patrols shallow nursery waters, taking small fish and avoiding larger predators.
3.
subadult
A near-adult shark moves to deeper water and takes larger prey, approaching mature size.
4.
adult
Fully grown and ranging widely.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Carcharhinus
Species: Carcharhinus melanopterus