Whitetip Reef Shark

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Triaenodon obesus

🇪🇸 Common name (ES): Tiburón de arrecife de punta blanca

🇺🇸 Common name (EN): Whitetip Reef Shark

CLASSIFICATION

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Chondrichthyes

Order:

Carcharhiniformes

Family:

Carcharhinidae

Genus:

Triaenodon

Species:

Triaenodon obesus

DISTRIBUTION IN COSTA RICA

● 1 – Murciélago

● 2 – Papagayo

● 3 – Catalinas

● 4 – Osa

● 5 – Golfo Dulce

● 6 – Isla del Coco

DEPTH RANGE

Depth range: 1–40 m (3–131 ft)

Common: 5–30 m (16–98 ft)

HABITAT

🪨 Rocky Reef

〰 Sandy Bottom

⛰️ Caves & Crevices

Common in coastal areas and around oceanic islands.

HOW TO IDENTIFY IT

Typical size: up to 1,6m (5.2 ft)
Common: 1,0m to 1,5m (3.3–4.9 ft)
Distinctive white tips on the upper part of the first dorsal fin, pectoral fins and caudal fin.
Gray to grayish-brown body.
Rounded snout and large eyes with a nictitating membrane.
First dorsal fin moderately large, located above the pectoral fins.

SIMILAR SPECIES

Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus): Black tips on the fins.
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus): More robust body, without white tips on the fins.
Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum): More robust body, no white fin tips, and barbels around the mouth.

SIGHTING FREQUENCY

REPRODUCTION

Sexual maturity 5 years
Usually gives birth every two years to 2–3 pups, approximately 50–60 cm long
The young are independent from birth.
🦈 Live-bearing (Viviparous)

BEHAVIOR

Generally calm.
Rests during the day in caves or under ledges. Usually found alone or in small groups.
At dusk and during the night, it becomes active and searches for food.

DIET