Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

Scientific name: Carcharhinus melanopterus Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

The Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carcharhinidae.

Biology

Inhabits shallow water close inshore on coral reefs and in the intertidal zone (reef flats), near reef drop-offs and close offshore. Also found in mangrove areas, moving in and out with the tide and even in fresh water, but not in tropical lakes and rivers far from the sea. Occurs singly or in small groups. Prefers fishes but also feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks. Viviparous. May become aggressive to spear fishers and has been reported to bite people wading in shallow water. Reported to cause poisoning. 2 to 4 young of 46 to 52 cm are born per litter. Generally marketed fresh (as fillet), may be dried, salted, smoked or frozen. Fins are valued for shark-fin soup; liver as source o

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Carcharhinus melanopterus
Family
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
200
Depth range
20–75 m (66–246 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous; depth range 20 - 75 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and the Tuamoto Archipelago. Apparently rare or absent in the more easterly groups. Also eastern Mediterranean (through the Suez Canal).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2)

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

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

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