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

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Chondrichthyes
Order
Carcharhiniformes
Family
Carcharhinidae
Genus
Triaenodon
Species
Triaenodon obesus