Whitetip reef shark
Scientific name: Triaenodon obesus
Description: The whitetip reef shark can reach a maximum length of about 7 feet and have rounded eyes. They are gray and have a white tip on their dorsal and caudal fins. Their jaws are slanted downwards to better reach benthic prey. The shark enjoys octopus, eels, lobsters among other food readily available in reefs of the Pacific ocean. These sharks may be found in aggregations near caves or crevices piled one on top of another.
Fun Facts:
- In Hawaii these sharks have been regarded as “aumakua” or guardian spirits
- They have been observed at depths of up to 1,083 ft!
