Black Tip Reef Shark Casey Slaughter and Colton

Black Tip Reef Shark Casey Slaughter and Colton Whitney

Introduction Carcharhinus melanopterus • First documented in 1817 by Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard • Named because of black tips on fins. • “Near Threatened” by Internation Union for Conservation of Nature

Location • Found in warm water near coral reefs. • Lives in the photic zone. • Found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

Physical Appearance � Common in aquariums. � Males are about 6 feet long. � Females are about 4 feet long. � They have between 21 -25 teeth.

Behavior � Blacktip reef sharks are fast, pursuit predators. � They are often found in groups. � They sometimes breach when hunting.

Nutrition � More active hunting at night. � Eats small reef fish, squid, octopus and shrimp. � Tiger shark, grey reef shark and groupers. � Threat to be fished.

Reproduction • • They are viviparous. Up to 10 pups a year. Maturity age is 4 for males and 7 for females. Blacktip reef sharks live to about 13 years.

Attacks � Common around shallow reef waters. � Comfortable around submerged divers. � Aggressive around fishermen and if provoked.

Bibliography • • • Baby Blacktip Reef Shark. Digital image. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. Blacktip Reef Shark Close-Up. Digital image. Clippix. N. p. , 28 Nov. 2009. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. Blacktip Reef Shark Feeding. Digital image. Shark Information. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. Grall, George. Group of black tip reef sharks. Digital image. National Aquarium. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. Guillaume Vilcot with Blacktip Reef Sharks. Digital image. N. p. , 28 Apr. 2005. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. Photo of Blacktip Reef Shark. Digital image. Monteray Bay Aquarium. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.