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  • Whitetip Reef Sharks
Fish

Whitetip Reef Sharks

Scientific Name

Triaenodon obesus

Other Common Name(s)

Whitetip Shark, Light-tip Shark

Body Weight

Up to 28 kg

Body Length

Up to 2 m

Silhouette of a shark swimming above a diver.
A shark with a white-tipped dorsal fin swims forward in dark water with other sharks and coral.

Habitat

Ocean
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Diet

Fish, crustaceans and cephalopods such as squid
Fish, scallop, squid, and shrimp.

Fun Facts

  • Coral reefs often form a rough surface with a lot of long projections and sharp edges. Whitetip reef sharks have a slender body, tough skin and manoeuvrable pectoral fins to adapt to this habitat.

  • Whitetip reef sharks are not territorial. They often rest together in caves during the day. They also share their reef habitats with other sharks such as blacktip reef sharks and grey reef sharks.

    • Whitetip reef shark swimming in blue water over a rocky seafloor.
    Close-up side view of a shark's head with an open mouth and visible teeth.

    Distribution

    Tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the waters of countries such as China, Australia, Somalia, Panama. Native to Hong Kong.

    Threats & Conservation

    Threats & Conservation

    Threats

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      Urbanisation & Infrastructure

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      Overexploitation of Biological Resources

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      Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption

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      Climate Change

    There is heavy fishing pressure in coastal waters. Whitetip reef sharks are caught and consumed for their meat and liver. While they were once very common in coral reefs, their numbers have dropped due to fisheries. These sharks are the top predators in the reefs and therefore serve an important role in balancing ecosystems. Their decline may bring a breakdown of the food web.

    Conservation

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    IUCN Red List

    • Vulnerable

    CITES

    • Appendix II

    Conservation

    • Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.

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