Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)

Whitetip reef shark

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Elasmobranchii \| Carcharhiniformes \| Carcharhinidae
Synonyms	Carcharias obesus, Triaenodon apicalis, ... more
Common names	Requin corail, Tiburón coralero ñato, Reef whitetip, ... more

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Image of Triaenodon obesus (Whitetip reef shark)

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. (Ref. 244)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 213 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); common length : 160 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); max. published weight: 18.3 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 25 years (Ref. 6807)

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 330 m (Ref. 244), usually 8 - 40 m (Ref. 244)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 29°N - 30°S, 33°E - 77°W (Ref. 55196)

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia and the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to New South Wales (Australia), New Caledonia, and the Austral and Pitcairn islands; throughout Micronesia. Eastern Pacific: Cocos and Galapagos islands, Panama to Costa Rica.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A small, slender shark with an extremely short, broad snout, oval eyes, and conspicuous white tips on the 1st dorsal (sometimes 2nd) and upper caudal fins; 2nd dorsal almost as large as 1st; no interdorsal ridge (Ref. 5578). Spiracles usually present, teeth 47-50/ 44-46, in at least 2 functional rows. Grey above, lighter below and sometimes with dark spots on sides (Ref. 5578). First dorsal-fin lobe and dorsal caudal-fin lobe with conspicuous white tips, second dorsal-fin lobe and ventral caudal-fin lobe often white-tipped (Ref. 9997).

Sluggish inhabitant of lagoons and seaward reefs where it is often found resting in caves or under coral ledges during the day (Ref. 6871, 58302), or usually on a sand patch, or in a channel (Ref. 37816). More active at night or during slack tide in areas of strong currents (Ref. 37816). Feeds on benthic animals such as fishes, octopi, spiny lobsters and crabs (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Travels distances from about 0.3 to 3 km in periods up to about 1 year (Ref. 244). Rarely reported to attack humans, but is potentially dangerous especially when fish had been speared (Ref. 244). Probably fished wherever it occurs (Ref. 244). Caught by inshore longline and gillnet fisheries, and probably adversely affected by dynamite fishing (Ref.58048). Meat and liver utilized fresh for human consumption (Ref. 244). The liver of this shark has been reported as toxic (Ref. 583). One to five 60 cm young per litter (Ref. 1602).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Lower Risk: near threatened (LR/nt)	Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=5-9; tmax=25; Fec=1)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high vulnerability (83 of 100)	Medium

Entered by Carpenter, Kent E.

Modified by Wiethüchter, Anita

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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