BLACKTIP SHARK

Photograph copyrighted by Tom Burns all rights reserved.

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Common Names: Blacktip shark

Latin Name: Carcharhinus limbatus  

Family: Carcharhinidae  

Identification: Black tips of pectorals, second dorsal, and lower caudal fin. All other fins may also be edged in black or appear dusky. Snout long and pointed. Upper body gray to  light gray with a white streak present from above the pectoral fins backwards joining the white underbelly half way to the tail. No interdorsal ridge. First dorsal fin high and pointed.

Size: Maximum length 260cm. Size at birth 38-72cm.   

Habitat:  Turbid inshore waters, lagoons, reef channels, reef drop offs and seamounts.  To 30m.

Abundance and distribution: Circumtropical and subtropical.

Behavior:  Diet consists primarily of fish including small sharks and rays. Also consume crustaceans and snails and octopus. At Rangiroa the Blacktip passes out of the lagoon on the ebbing tide to cruise the reef face. More active during daylight hours.

Reproduction: Viviparous. Recorded litter size 1 - 10. Gestation period 11 - 12 months.

Observations:

Photographs: Walkers Cay, Bahamas.

Similar species: In the Caribbean the Blacktip is often confused with the Caribbean reef shark (C.perezi) which is not as slender and long in front of the eyes and has a less pronounced white stripe on its flank. Many other Carchhinids around the world are also hard to distinguish from the blacktip shark. Commonly seen species include the Grey reef (C.amblyrhynchos) and the Galapagos shark (C.galapagensis). Fin tip coloration and proportion is the best clue.

Reaction to divers: Varied. Usually shy but during some encounters the Blacktip shark can become aggressive making close passes and bumping divers.  

Diving logistics: This wide ranging species may be seen in a variety of locations. Drift dives organized at Rangiroa Lagoon are often well populated with blacktips. The chumsicle dive at Walkers Cay in the Bahamas is the best location in the Caribbean to get very close to this shark. 

Other diving locations submitted by readers: 

References and further reading:  

Sharks of Tropical and Temperate Seas. - R.H. Johnson - Pisces Books

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.

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