Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus

The Whitetip Reef Shark is native to coral reefs of the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans from southern Africa through to Central America. It is the only species in its genus.

It has a white tip on its first dorsal fin and usually also on its upper tail fin. It has a down-sloping mouth and vertical pupils. It grows to some one and a half metres long.

Mainly nocturnal, it spends most of the day resting. Above right, a White-tipped Reef Shark is sharing a daytime cave with a nocturnal Spotted Moray Eel.

Its prey is mainly fish but includes crustaceans and cephalopods. Although common around reefs, it is vulnerable from overfishing.