Sharks
Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
SaltwaterCarcharhinidaeNear Threatened
About
Reef sharks are slender-bodied sharks with a short, blunt snout and prominent black tips on their fins, especially the first dorsal and caudal fins. They are active predators, often seen patrolling reef edges and shallow lagoons, and are known for their relatively timid nature towards humans.
- Average size
- 1.6 meters (5.2 feet)
- Colors
- Gray or brownish-gray dorsally, white or pale ventrally, with black tips on fins.
- Diet
- Primarily bony fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods, and occasionally sea snakes and seabirds.
- Region
- Not found in the US; primarily found in the Indo-Pacific region, including areas around Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.