What is the meaning of reef shark?
Reef sharks are sharks that live near coral reefs in tropical waters around the world. There are four main species: blacktip, whitetip, Caribbean, and gray. They are predators, eating fish and invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs, and though some are curious, they are usually not aggressive.
Are there white tip sharks in Hawaii?
The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) is probably the most commonly encountered shark in Hawaii’s reef communities. As the common name implies whitetips can be identified by the prominent white markings on the upper tips of their first dorsal fin and tail fin.
Are whitetip reef sharks rare?
The IUCN has assessed the whitetip reef shark as Vulnerable, noting its numbers are dwindling due to increasing levels of unregulated fishing activity across its range. The slow reproductive rate and limited habitat preferences of this species renders its populations vulnerable to overfishing.
What is another name for the GREY reef shark?
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, sometimes misspelled amblyrhynchus or amblyrhinchos) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. One of the most common reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific, it is found as far east as Easter Island and as far west as South Africa.
How big do white tip reef sharks get?
5.3 feet
Whitetip reef sharks grow to an average length of 5.3 feet (1.6 m). The maximum weight ever recorded was 40.3 pounds (18.3 kg) and the maximum length ever recorded was 7 feet (2.1 m), but a length over 5.3 feet (1.6 m) is extremely rare.
What is the name of the Hawaiian shark god?
In Hawaiian mythology, one key player of the seas was Ukupanipo–a shark god who played a big role in the success (or failure) of anglers on the water. Take a look at today’s blog to learn about this eccentric fixture of Hawaiian mythology!
What is the black tip reef shark scientific name?
Carcharhinus melanopterus
Blacktip reef shark/Scientific names
Blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), are small sharks measuring up to 1.8 m with short, bluntly-rounded snouts, oval eyes, and narrow-cusped teeth. They have 2 dorsal fins and no interdorsal ridges.
Are white tip or black tip sharks more aggressive?
The great white is the most dangerous shark with a recorded 314 unprovoked attacks on humans. This is followed by the striped tiger shark with 111 attacks, bull sharks with 100 attacks and blacktip shark with 29 attacks.
Where do black tip reef sharks live?
Blacktip reef sharks are commonly found along the coastlines of Pacific regions, such as Thailand, Japan, Philippines, New Caledonia and northern Australia. They are also found in the Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Red Sea.
Do white tip sharks eat humans?
Despite the greater notoriety of the great white shark and other sharks habitually found nearer the shore, the oceanic whitetip is considered responsible for more fatal attacks on humans than all other species combined, as a result of predation on those shipwrecked or from aircraft downed in the open ocean.
Where did the whitetip reef shark get its name?
As Rüppell did not originally designate a holotype, in 1960 a 31-cm-long specimen caught off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was made the species lectotype. Other common names for this shark include blunthead shark, light-tip shark, reef whitetip shark, and whitetip shark.
What kind of shark eats whitetip reef sharks?
Important predators of the whitetip reef shark include tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), Galapagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis), and possibly also silvertip sharks (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), though they usually occur at depths greater than those favored by whitetip reef sharks.
What kind of shark is white with white fins?
The whitetip reef shark is slender and sleek, with characteristic white markings on the tips of several of its fins. These markings gave it its common name. It is an agile swimmer well suited for its mostly reef habitat existence. Whitetip shark under a coral reef ledge in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.