Reef shark | Facts & Information

# Reef shark | Facts & Information

Reef shark | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Reef shark

The reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is part of the Carcharhinidae, order Carcharhiniformes. It can be found in the Pacific and Indian oceans, in the Red Sea and near the islands of Maldives, Madagascar, Japan and the coast of Thailand.

Reef shark

The reef shark, also known as Carcharhinus, is a member of the shark family called Carcharhinidae. This impressive species of shark is known for its aggressive behavior and remarkable adaptability to coral reef habitats.

The reef shark is found worldwide, with significant populations in tropical and subtropical areas, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. This animal lives close to the coasts, where warmer waters and shallower depths provide the necessary food and protection against predators.

Typically, the reef shark can reach a length of about 1.5 to 2.5 meters, depending on the species. They have an aerodynamic body shape, with an elongated tail to ensure fast and efficient swimming. The skin of the reef shark is covered with rough and tough scales, which provide protection against injuries and parasites.

One of the distinct features of the reef shark is that they have multiple rows of sharp and replaceable teeth. When a tooth is lost during hunting or fights with other creatures, another tooth moves forward and ensures proper functionality. This allows the reef shark to always have sharp teeth to catch and tear apart their prey.

The diet of the reef shark consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other small marine organisms. They are aggressive and efficient hunters, intelligently adapting to changes in the coral reef ecosystem. Veterinarians believe that their varied and balanced diet helps them remain healthy and develop properly.

Reef sharks are solitary and territorial creatures. They establish their own territory and defend it against intruders, including other sharks. These animals are highly adapted to their reef habitat, with an amazing ability to navigate through coral and find hiding places in the underwater labyrinth of the reef.

Although the reef shark is often considered a fierce predator, they themselves face numerous threats, including from larger shark species and dolphins. To defend themselves, they can be aggressive and use their sharp teeth to protect themselves from potential threats.

Unfortunately, reef sharks face numerous threats to their survival. Overfishing, water pollution, and habitat destruction have led to a significant decrease in their populations in many areas. This is not only a significant loss for marine diversity but also a wake-up call for the global state of coral reef ecosystems.

To protect these amazing sharks and their fragile habitat, regulation of fishing and protection of marine areas is necessary. It is also important to improve public awareness regarding their importance in the ecosystem and ensure that tourists visiting coral reefs respect the rules and do not disturb the marine environment.

In conclusion, the reef shark is an impressive and adaptable species that plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems. These fascinating animals need protection and conservation to ensure their survival and maintain the delicate balance of the marine environment. Through regulations and awareness, we can gain a new respect for these iconic predators and enhance their protection in their natural habitat.

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Origin

It prefers tropical and subtropical reef areas with shallow waters, only a few meters deep, where it can be easily seen its black-tipped dorsal fin.

It is the most common shark found in tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Besides the unique scientific name it can be found in the literature or abroad under the names: Black reef shark, blacktip reef shark, the blacktip reef shark, blackfin reef shark, black-finned shark, blacktip shark, reef blacktip shark or guliman. The name and scientific name it got its name from the net tip of the dorsal fin and the area where it lives.

Two French naturalists Jean Rene Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard described this species of shark for the first time between 1817 and 1820.

At this time the reef shark is not in danger of extinction, but numbers may be decreasing as it is hunted for consumption. We're not going to say why it's hunted so as not to encourage poaching. In India and Thailand it is fishing with nets.

Feeding the reef shark

The reef shark's food is made up of various fish species found in the reef area, calamari, sea snakes, seabirds, shrimp, octopus, cuttlefish, stingrays and other smaller shark species.

Besides meat it also feeds on various algae or sea grass.

Appearance reef shark

The reef shark is 1.5-2 meters long and weighs 45 kg. Apart from the dorsal fin which has a black tip the rest of the body is grey-grey or grey-brown, less the underside which is whitish. Some individuals may have other black-tipped flippers, such as the one in the picture. The long body with hydrodynamic appearance and well-developed swimmers make the reef shark an excellent swimmer. His abilities and the high speed he can achieve confirm that he is a great fish. The head is elongated and the blunt snout is quite large.

Large eyes are placed on the sides of the head to provide greater visibility. Both sight and smell are well developed. Breathing is carried out with the help of five symmetrically positioned lateral gills. Its terotirium covers an area of slightly more than 500 square meters.

Sexual dimorphism is difficult to observe even if the female is smaller than the male by 30-40cm.

Reef shark behavior

Like other shark species, the reef shark is not dangerous to humans either. It does not endanger human life either by aggressive behavior or by size. On the contrary, the reef shark is a shark that swims alongside divers.

If you enter their territory and try to catch them by the tail or chase them they can bite. It is best not to disturb them, not to provoke them and they will not harm you. There are cases when he attacked the man for the fish that he had with him.

The aggression was caused by the blood of the fish that the man had on him. It is generally a shy fish that avoids places where people swim.

You can also find them in waters less than a meter in the natural environment. The reef shark has been patrolling its terrothorium for several years in a row. It is a fish that likes routine, an active fish that hunts often to quench its food.

The reef shark is very sensitive to temperature. If during the day, when the water is warmer, he can swim fast enough and show his abilities, at night his speed decreases with the decrease in water temperature. It is known that in the reef re Shark prefers tropical areas for high water temperature. If kept in low-temperature waters, he gets hypothermia and dies shortly.

Reef shark breeding

The reef shark reproduces viviparously, that is, the female gives birth to live Cubs. After mating and the gestation period that can last between 7 and 12 months, depending on the geographical area, the female gives birth to 2-6 cubs that are 30-50cm long.

Chickens grow in each I have about 5cm. If the conditions are good and the food is sufficient the female can give birth to two rows of cubs per year.

Mating takes place in January – February. When in heat the female emits signals to attract the males. After the two meet copulation lasts a few minutes after which each resumes its activity. After birth, the Cubs are independent. They are left in areas with seaweed or mangroves. Maturity is reached around the age of 8-9 years at a length of 1 meter.

The life expectancy of the reef shark is about 30-40 years.

#Photo Gallery of Reef Shark