Whitetip Reef Shark

coral reefs · ocean hunters · Indo-Pacific

Tiny but fierce. Whitetip reef sharks are one of the smallest sharks in the ocean, usually growing no longer than 5 feet, but they are skilled hunters that can navigate coral reefs with ease.

White-tipped fins. You can spot these sharks by their distinctive white tips on their dorsal fin and tail fin, which makes them stand out against the colorful reef.

Vertical slit eyes. Unlike most sharks, whitetip reef sharks have oval eyes with vertical pupils, similar to a cat's eyes, which help them see in the shadowy depths of the reef.

Reef residents. These sharks live in warm, clear waters across the Indo-Pacific Ocean, from South Africa all the way to Central America, and they spend most of their time hunting near the ocean floor.

Special nose flaps. They have unique tubular skin flaps beside their nostrils that may help them sense food hiding in cracks and crevices of the coral reef.