Sealife guideThe blacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterus

Taxonomy

Common name: Blacktip reef shark
French name: Requin pointe noire
Scientific name: Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Family name: Carcharhinidae
Order name: Carcharhiniformes
Class name: Elasmobranchii

Description

The blacktip reef shark, with its gray back and whitish belly, is particularly recognizable by the black tip of its dorsal fin. The blacktip reef shark can reach up to 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to around 22 pounds.

The blacktip reef shark is recognizable by the black tip on its fin ! © Carol Buchanan | Dreamstime.com

Range

The blacktip reef shark is found in the subtropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean, ranging from the eastern coasts of Africa to Hawaii and the Tuamotu archipelago, including the Maldives and French Polynesia. It is also present in the Red sea and via the Suez Canal, in the Mediterranean sea.

Habitat

The blacktip reef shark inhabits shallow lagoon waters or the edges of lagoons near reefs, but it can also be found at depths of up to 246 feet.

Typically, the blacktip reef shark frequents the same reef areas and may live in groups of several individuals.

Diet

The blacktip reef shark primarily feeds on various types of fish, as well as crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks.

The blacktip reef shark accompanied by its faithful remoras !

Reproduction

The blacktip reef shark is viviparous. After a 9-month gestation period, the female gives birth to a litter of 2 to 4 pups, each measuring around 16 inches, although they grow very slowly afterward.

Did you know ?

The blacktip reef shark cannot remain stationary without risking suffocation, as it needs to constantly move to generate a water current through its gills to supply the oxygen needed for breathing.

The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) © Carol Buchanan | Dreamstime.com

The blacktip reef shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The blacktip reef shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2020 within the category Vulnerable !

Within the same genus

Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)

Copper shark
(Carcharhinus brachyurus)

Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)

Sandbar shark
(Carcharhinus plumbeus)

Grey reef shark
(Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)

Dusky shark
(Carcharhinus obscurus)

Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)

Within the same family

Blue shark
(Prionace glauca)

Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)

Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)

Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)

Explore also

Great white shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)

Blind shark
(Brachaelurus waddi)

Brownbanded bamboo shark
(Chiloscyllium punctatum)

Raja epaulette shark
(Hemiscyllium freycineti)

Crested hornshark
(Heterodontus galeatus)

Short fin mako
(Isurus oxyrinchus)

Hammerhead shark
(9 espèces)

Pyjama shark
(Poroderma africanum)

Our latestUpdates

Monday, April 14th 2025

The bigeye trevally

The bigeye trevally has a silver-colored body with, as its name suggests, larger eyes compared to other trevally species. It is distinguished from other trevally species by the slightly yellowish color of its tail.

Monday, April 7th 2025

Best things to do in Miami

A flagship city of Florida, Miami is a dream destination where paradise beaches, a vibrant Latino atmosphere and a buzzing nightlife come together. With its year-round sunshine, iconic Art Deco architecture and dynamic cultural scene, Miami has everything to captivate travelers in search of escape.

Sunday, March 23rd 2025

The plumose sea anemone

The plumose sea anemone is a key species in temperate and cold marine ecosystems. Its high adaptability, morphological diversity and reproductive strategies make it a crucial organism for understanding biological and ecological interactions in marine environments.

Photo of the Day

Poisson perroquet bicolore
(Scarus rubroviolaceus)