Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Animalia
VULNERABLE
Stats
- Lifespan
- Up to 25 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Activity
- Nocturnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Coral reef
- Range
- Indo-Pacific
- Movement
- Swimming
- Breeding
- Live birth
- Defense
- Speed
- Status
- Vulnerable
About
This slender shark lives in the coral crevices of the Indo-Pacific reefs. It rests motionless on the seafloor by pumping water over its gills to breathe while sleeping.
Life cycle
- 1.newborn pupA pup is born free-swimming and fully formed, hunting on its own from the first day.
- 2.juvenileA juvenile shark patrols shallow nursery waters, taking small fish and avoiding larger predators.
- 3.subadultA near-adult shark moves to deeper water and takes larger prey, approaching mature size.
- 4.adultFully grown and ranging widely.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Carcharhiniformes
- Family
- Carcharhinidae
- Genus
- Triaenodon
- Species
- Triaenodon obesus