Name: Whitetip reef shark, blunthead shark, whitetip shark
Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)
Family: Carcharhinidae
Group: Sharks, rays and chimaeras
Class: Fish
Size: 101-200 cm.
This harmless and notoriously slow shark is not very efficient at capturing fishes in open waters. Consequently, it feeds on the sea floor and makes the most of the shape of its snout (short and rounded) to capture animals inside narrow holes. It is more active at night and between tides, when it patrols reefs in search of food. During the day, it rests on the bottom of caverns swept by currents, which allow it to breathe effortlessly. It is a viviparous species and after 5 months of gestation, the females give birth to between 1 and 5 young, measuring about 60 cm. This is the only shark whose flesh can be responsible for cases of ciguatera.
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Global Ocean
