Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus 

Habitat & Distribution :  Indo-Pacific Ocean 

Diet : Eels, fish, octopus, crustaceans 

Size : 1,6 m 

Lifespan : 13 - 15 years

Description

Small, slender shark, easily identified by the bright white tips on its first dorsal and upper tail fins. They have greyish-brown bodies, often with dark spots, and a short, blunt snout. 

Behavior

Nocturnal & social, they spend daylight hours resting in groups within caves or crevices. Unlike many sharks, they can stay motionless on the seabed by pumping water over their gills 

Reproduction

Whitetip reef sharks are viviparous sharks with a gestation period of 10–13 months, giving birth to 1–5 pups per litter. 

Communication & Perception

Whitetip reef sharks communicate primarily through visual cues, body contact, and chemical signals (pheromones) to navigate social structures and mating, often using sharp, distinct white-tipped fins for visibility.  

Predator(s)

Tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, Queensland grouper