Whitetip Reef Shark (species: Triaenodon obesus) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Pisces > Elasmobranchii > Neoselachii > Selachii > Galeomorphi > Carcharhiniformes > Carcharhinidae > Triaenodon > Triaenodon obesus (gallery)
Triaenodon obesus
Whitetip Reef Shark


©Andy: An adult female Whitetip Reef Shark over a shallow reef flat

©Jan Messersmith: Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

©Andy: A Whitetip Reef Shark resting on the bottom at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. The blunt snout is evident.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Carcharhinidae
Genus Triaenodon
Species Triaenodon obesus
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Distinguishing features

A small to medium sized slender shark with a grey body and whitish underparts.The snout is broadly rounded and there are white tips to the dorsal fin and tail.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

Distribution and habitat preferences

Reef fronts, lagoonal and backreef patches. Not generally seen in very shallow water like the Blacktip Reef Shark.

Can be seen in most locations around the Island.

Behaviour

The Whitetip Reef Shark is usually seen swimming singly over the reef, or resting on the bottom in pairs or small groups in caves or in deeper passes. It feeds on reef fishes, cephalopods, and crayfish and is mainly active at night.

Web resources

References

  • Martin, R.A. (2007). A review of shark agonistic displays: comparison of display features and implications for shark-human interactions, Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 40: 3-34. LIRS catalog number 90001.
  • Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Robbins, W.D., M. Hisano, S.R. Connolly and J.H. Choat (2006). Ongoing collapse of coral-reef shark populations, Current Biology, 16: 2314-2319. LIRS catalog number 993.
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