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

Habitat

Ocean

Diet

Fish, crustaceans and cephalopods such as squid

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.

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

Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
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

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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