Blacktip reef shark

The blacktip reef shark is a fast, active hunter of shallow coral reefs, often seen swimming so close to shore that its dorsal fin cuts the surface in ankle-deep water.

Also known as: carcharhinus melanopterus, black fin reef shark, black finned shark, black tip reef shark, black tip shark, black tips nilow, black-tip reef shark, blackfin reef shark, blacktip reefshark, blacktip shark, guliman, reef blacktip shark, requien shark, shark

This shark is easily confused with the whitetip reef shark and the grey reef shark, the two other common sharks on Indo-Pacific reefs. The clear giveaway is the black tip on the first dorsal fin, where the other two species show either a white tip or plain grey.

This shark has a classic streamlined shark shape, with a short, wide, rounded snout and moderately large oval eyes. The pectoral fins are long and sickle-shaped, tapering to a point, and the first dorsal fin is tall with a curved rear edge; there is no ridge between the first and second dorsal fins. The body is pale grey-brown above and white below, with a white band along the sides that runs forward from above the anal fin. Every fin carries a black tip edged in a lighter colour, most noticeable on the first dorsal fin and the lower lobe of the tail. It can grow up to about 2 m long.

Blacktip reef sharks live in shallow, nearshore waters across the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific. Younger sharks favour shallow sandy flats, while older sharks are more often found around reef ledges and drop-offs; the species has also turned up in brackish and even freshwater habitats. Although recorded as deep as 75 m, it is usually found in just a few metres of water.

This is one of the three most common sharks on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, and the one most likely to be seen in very shallow water rather than deeper reef habitat. It is fast and active, seen alone, in small groups, or occasionally in larger gatherings. Individual sharks show strong loyalty to a small home patch of reef, often staying there for years.

As one of the top predators on the reef, the blacktip reef shark feeds mainly on small fish such as mullet, groupers, jacks, and wrasses, along with squid, octopus, and crabs.

generally harmless and shy — poses little threat to divers

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  Blue shark

  Prionace glauca

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  Bull shark

  Carcharhinus leucas

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  Grey Reef Shark

  Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

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  Lemon Shark

  Negaprion brevirostris

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  Oceanic Blacktip Shark

  Carcharhinus limbatus

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  Oceanic whitetip shark

  Carcharhinus longimanus