Home
Hagfishes
Chimaeras
Lampreys
Sharks and Rays
Angel sharks
Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks
Bullhead and Horn sharks
Carpet sharks
Electric rays
Frill and cow sharks
Ground sharks
Barbeled houndsharks
Cat sharks
False catsharks
Finback catsharks
Hammerhead,bonnethead,scoophead sharks
Houndsharks
Requiem sharks
Weasel sharks
Mackerel sharks
Sawfishes
Ray-finned fishes
Lobe-finned fishes
Setting up your tank
DIY Fish Tank Stand
250L community aquarium
Contact Us
 

Find fish information
 
Find fish by area

Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) fish species and information / pictures of Blacktip reef shark - Carcharhinus melanopterus

Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Carcharhinus melanopterus

Common Name
Blacktip reef shark

Biology
Inhabits shallow water close inshore on coral reefs and in the intertidal zone (reef flats), near reef drop-offs and close offshore (Ref. 244, 58302). Also found in mangrove areas, moving in and out with the tide (Ref. 6871) and even in fresh water, but not in tropical lakes and rivers far from the sea (Ref. 9997). Occurs singly or in small groups (Ref. 244, 54301). Prefers fishes but also feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks (Ref. 6871). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). May become aggressive to spear fishers and has been reported to bite people wading in shallow water (Ref. 6871). Reported to cause poisoning (Ref. 4690). 2 to 4 young of 46 to 52 cm are born per litter (Ref. 1602). Generally marketed fresh (as fillet), may be dried, salted, smoked (Ref. 5284) or frozen (Ref. 9987). Fins are valued for shark-fin soup (Ref. 9987); liver as source o

Classification

Classified By
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)
Family
Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-Pacific
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).
Range
35°N - 25°S, 7°E - 134°W

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
20 m
Depth To - meters
75 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 20 - 75 m (Ref. 37816)
Trophic Level
3.94 s.e. 0.60 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
200 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Vulnerability
High vulnerability (64 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2)
Threat To Humans
  Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)
IUCN Red List Status
  Near Threatened (NT)