Whitetip reef shark
Triaenodon obesus
Valid name.
- English
- Whitetip reef shark
- Scientific
- Triaenodon obesus
- Dhivehi
- އޮޅުފަތި މިޔަރުOlhufathi miyaru
- Group
- Sharks
- Maximum size
- Commonly to 1.6 m; maximum about 2.1 m
- Depth and habitat
- Reef slopes, caves and channels, about 8 to 40 m (recorded to 330 m)
- IUCN status
- VU · VulnerableVulnerable (VU), assessed 2020
Description
A slender grey shark with a short, blunt snout and bright white tips on the first dorsal fin and upper tail lobe. Unlike most sharks it can rest motionless on the bottom, pumping water over its gills. At night it hunts in packs, squeezing into reef crevices after sleeping fish, octopus and crustaceans. It stays close to a home reef for years.
In the Maldives
Very common on Maldivian reefs, often found resting in caves and under overhangs during the day. The featured photo was taken at Fihalhohi, South Malé Atoll. Protected under the 2010 shark fishing ban.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Triaenodon-obesus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=907&GenusName=Triaenodon&SpeciesName=
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/އޮޅުފަތި_މިޔަރު
- cites.org /sites/default/files/eng/prog/shark/images/Maldives.pdf
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Whitetip-reef-shark.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Section, Malé (FAO/BOBP MAG/21); Thaana from Dhivehi Wikipedia (fish articles derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). FishBase and a second Dhivehi Wikipedia article give 'Faana miyaru' (ފާނަ މިޔަރު).