Sharks of the Reef
There are 368 different species of sharks, and quite a few are facing endangerment. These species include the Great Hammerhead and Great White shark.
Reef Sharks are very popular in aquariums. There are Blacktips, Whitetips, Caribbean Reef, and Grey Reef visible in pictures with bios below in that order.
Reef Sharks are very popular in aquariums. There are Blacktips, Whitetips, Caribbean Reef, and Grey Reef visible in pictures with bios below in that order.
Blacktip Reef Shark:
Max. Length: About 6 ft. Max. Weight: 30 lbs Scientific Name: Carcharhinus melanopterus Fun fact: Blacktip Reef Sharks are one of the most popular species of sharks around North America in aquariums. Whitetip Reef Shark: Max. Length: About 7 ft. Max. Weight: 40 lbs Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus Fun fact: Whitetip Reef Sharks can actually rest on the seafloor without dying. They pump water over their gills so they can rest on the seafloor. Although, the most famous reef shark would probably have to be the Nurse Shark.
Nurse Shark:
Max. Length: 14 ft. Max. Weight: 275 lbs Diet: Spiny lobsters, Crabs, Squids, Octopuses, Snails and Bivalves Scientific Name: Ginglymostoma cirratum The Nurse Shark is a very common shark in aquariums around the world, for being so docile and so amazing to look at. They are not known to harm humans, but have the power to. Their jaws have amazing suction power. This one man ended up with 278 stitches in and out of his lips because he attempted to kiss a nurse shark! What a schmuck! |
Caribbean Reef Shark:
Max. Length: 10 ft. Scientific Name: Carcharhinus perezii Fun fact: The Caribbean Reef Shark is the largest of the reef shark species. Grey Reef Shark: Max. Length: 6.6 ft. (2 m) Max. Weight: 66 lbs Scientific Name: Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Fun fact: Grey Reef Sharks are the most common shark among the warm waters off the coast of India in the Pacific Ocean. Then there's a species called the Lemon Shark.
Lemon Shark:
Max. Length: 3.5m (11.55 ft.) Max. Weight: Unknown Diet: Large teleost fishes, Rays, Other sharks, Spiny lobsters, Swimming crabs Scientific Name: Negaprion brevirostris Thanks to on-going extensive studies over many, many years, it seems that we now know more about theLemon Shark's life history than any other tropical shark's! The Lemon Shark, of course, gets its name from the yellowish-gray color of its skin. Off Bimini, Bahamas, you can study the entire life cycle of one of these animals. It's been scientifically proven! |
Next, we'll move onto the Silvertip Shark and Scalloped Hammerhead!