Blacktail reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

Scientific name: Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Bleeker, 1856

Blacktail reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

The Blacktail reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a marine fish of the family Carcharhinidae.

Biology

Occurs on continental and insular shelves and oceanic waters adjacent to them. Common on coral reefs, often in deeper areas near drop-offs to the open sea, in atoll passes, and in shallow lagoons adjacent to areas of strong currents. Coastal-pelagic near the bottom, near drop-offs at 1-275 m. Forms daytime schools or aggregations in favored areas. Although active during the day, it is more active nocturnally. Viviparous, with 1-6 pups. Feeds on reef fishes, squids, octopi, crabs, lobsters and shrimps. Tends to be aggressive under baited conditions and readily enters into a frenzy feeding pattern, at which time it may become quite dangerous. Repeatedly incriminated in human attacks. Utilized for human consumption, fishmeal, and other shark products. Minimum

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Family
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
255
Depth range
0–1000 m (0–3281 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1000 m, usually 0 - 280 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Madagascar and the Mauritius-Seychelles area, possibly India; also Red Sea to South Africa if Carcharhinus wheeleri is synonymized with this species. In the Pacific, it ranges from southern China to northern Australia and the Tuamoto Archipelago.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=7; tmax=25; Fec=1-5)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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