Gray reef shark

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Gray reef shark
Conservation status
Near Threatened (LC/nt)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Carcharhinidae Genus: Carcharhinus Species: C. amblyrhynchos
Binomial name
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker, 1856)
Range of gray reef shark

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The grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, is one of the most common sharks in Indo-Pacific waters, from the Red Sea to Easter Island. It is found at depths down to about 250 m in lagoons and close to islands and coral reefs.

As its name suggests, the shark is grey overall, with a white underside. The tips of most fins, except the first dorsal fin, are darker, and the trailing edge of the caudal fin has a prominent black margin. Some individuals have a white pattern on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. It has been recorded at up to 2.55 m. The blacktip reef shark looks similar, and is also common, but it is distinguished by a black tip on the first dorsal fin.

[edit] Behavior

Grey reef shark.

They are active during the day, but more so at night, feeding on reef fishes, squids, octopus, and various crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp.

This species is social, aggregating in favored areas, often near dropoffs at the edge of a reef, or in atoll passes where there is a strong current. They are often curious, will investigate scuba divers, and have been implicated in attacks, although there is some debate as to whether the sharks are fundamentally aggressive or have simply reacted badly to perceived threats by divers. When threatened they exhibit a distinctive threat behaviour, adopting a hunched posture with the body bent into an "S" shape.

Reproduction is viviparous, with 1 – 6 pups in a litter.

The numbers of grey reef sharks have declined in recent years.

[edit] References

• Smale (2000). Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
• "Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 09 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
• Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (TSN 160358). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 15 November 2005.
• Gray Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos MarineBio"
• Elasmo Research page on agonistic behavior