The Whitetip Reef Shark

  Predominantly inhabiting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially the Great Barrier Reef, where it is one of the most common sharks, whitetip reef sharks could be referred to as the wolves of the sea - dominating the ocean at night and swarming across reefs in their hundreds.

  Small and slow, whitetip reef sharks make for good aquarium exhibits and are a great attraction for divers in the wild. Although they are generally passive, these reef sharks have been known to attack spear-fishermen whilst trying to steal their catch. Numerous divers have been injured in the feeding frenzies that ensue, although these well-publicised events are few and far between.

  Dwelling in caves for the most part of the time, whitetips come to life at night as they prowl their reef-homes in the dark - preying on any unfortunate fish or crustacean they come across. With slender, cartilaginous bodies, they can easily press themselves into crevices or caves in search of food. Scavengers by nature, some whitetip reef sharks - most notably those of Hawaii - have learned to follow seals in order to steal their hard-earned meals. Others have developed the bait of waiting by reef drop-offs and catching the remains of fish,

Whitetip reef sharks rarely grow
to two metres in length.

which float in with the tide.

  A typical behaviour of reef sharks, whitetips often frequent cleaning stations on their reef, where cleaner wrasse and small fish feed on the many parasites sharks are known to suffer from. Copepods often attach themselves to whitetips in order to feed on their flesh.

  Their are, however, some more fearsome predators to the whitetip reef shark. Around America and Mexico, tiger sharks frequently kill whitetips for their meat, while silvertip sharks in Australia will attack any creature in order to defend their territory. Astonishingly, the remains of full grown whitetip reef sharks have been discovered in the stomachs of giant groupers. These gargantuan fish often inhabit the wreckages of boats and aeroplanes near to reefs and are easily capable of swallowing a shark whole. Due to their rarity, however, such an occurrence is not common and has only been witnessed a few times.

  Rarely leaving the reef they were born at, whitetip reef sharks have come to symbolise fidelity to the natives of many Pacific islands. This is generally attributed to their fear of the predators around their reefs, rather than to the sharks being instinctively territorial, as they are social creatures and often rest in large groups during the day.

  Sadly, whitetip numbers have declined in recent years due to the numerous fisheries hunting them for the hide, meat and liver oil. The destruction of their restricted reef-habitat has also played a large role in this, reducing their numbers abhorrently. Slow reproducers, it is quite possible that whitetips will be hunted to extinction in certain areas before they are able to repopulate.

A juvenile whitetip reef shark on the Great Barrier Reef. Note the distinctive
white fin and tail tips.