Scientific name:
Carcharhinus melanopterus Identification:
First dorsal and lower caudal fins always have distinct black markings, other fins also with black tips or margins; snout bluntly rounded; no interdorsal ridge. Size:
Birth 33-52 cm (13-20.5 inches), maximum length 1.8 m (5.9 ft). Range:
Red Sea to the Society Islands, north to Japan and south to New Caledonia and Australia. Also reported from the eastern Mediterranean. Depth range from intertidal zone to usually no deeper than 10 m (33 ft). Biology:
Observed in lagoons and on the reef flat. Will aggregate in reef channels at low tide and move on to the reef flat at high tide. Feeds on fishes (wrasses, triggerfishes, parrotfishes, goatfishes), squid, octopuses, crabs, mantis shrimp, and sea snakes (feed on them heavily in some areas). A fast swimming predator that has been observed chasing down surgeonfishes and stingrays. Has been observed attacking aggregations of spawning surgeonfish. Utilizes a limited home range of several square kilometers (about 1 square mile). Eaten by other sharks and groupers. In nonbaited situations, usually nonaggressive to divers and difficult to approach. Larger specimens are potentially aggressive when fish are speared and smaller specimens have attacked waders (if attacked while wading lie down in the water).