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Range and Habitat: Wide-ranging in the Indo-Pacific, also found in the eastern Pacific, Cocos and Galapagos Islands, Panama to Costa Rica; often found in shallow waters. They inhabit tropical waters, and are bottom and surface dwellers. They may be found as deep as 330 meters from surf line to basin, but they are mainly in shallow clear water on or near coral reefs. They have a diel and tidal activity pattern. Most active at night and slack tides where strong currents occur. Individuals return to the same caves in the day for long periods, but will change caves periodically.
Description: Maximum length is said to be about 213 cm (about 7 feet). Whitetips usually range from 158 to 168 cm (5.2 – 5.5 feet), however females are often a bit larger than males. Color grey or brownish above, without a color pattern other than variable dusky spots and brilliant white fin tips. They are considered moderate-sized sharks.
Habits and Adaptations: Teeth similar in upper and lower jaws. Extremely broad snout (double-edged teeth without serrations--excellent for grasping and eating prey whole), no teeth protruding from the mouth. Eyes horizontally oval. With posterior notches, down slanted mouth and prominent brow ridge the whitetip head has a sardonic, disgusted look. This shark will sit on the bottom for long periods of time. Will change resting locations occasionally but don’t migrate. They are most active at night. They are characterized as inept pelagic predators, chasing prey into caves and openings in the coral reefs following after them as far as they can reach.
Diet: Bony fish, including eels; feed voraciously on small fish at night.
Breeding and Maturation: Females and males inhabit the same areas. Females apparently give birth in the autumn and winter. They are viviparous. 1 to 5 young per litter, commonly two to three. Size at birth is 52 to 60 cm, (1.7 to 2.0 ft.) These young are born with sharp, functional teeth. Lifespan is at least 25 years.
Miscellaneous: Whitetip reef sharks are hardy; swim slowly most of the time and rest on the bottom which allows them to be viewed fairly readily. These sharks are fished in their natural habitat but the impact has so far not been detrimental to the population. Its small size, small teeth, and generally placid behavior makes it far less dangerous than many other sharks. They can be provoked to attack, just like a domestic cat or dog but generally don’t bother humans. They sometimes steal spear fisher’s catches, and if these spear fishers defend their catch they could be attacked. Larger sharks and fish as well as humans are all predators of these sharks. Whitetip reef sharks superficially resemble many dogfish sharks. But are unique for their habitat.
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