Carcharhinus melanopterus

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Family : Requiem sharks ; Inhabits shallow water close inshore on coral reefs and in the intertidal zone (reef flats ), near reef drop-offs and close offshore[1]. Also found in mangrove areas, moving in and out with the tide [2] and even in fresh water , but not in tropical lakes and rivers far from the sea [3]. Occurs singly or in small groups[1]. Prefers fishes but also feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks[2]. Viviparous [4]. May become aggressive to spear fishers and has been reported to bite people wading in shallow water[2]. Reported to cause poisoning [5]. 2 to 4 young of 46 to 52 cm are born per litter [6]. Generally marketed fresh (as fillet ), may be dried, salted, smoked[7] or frozen[8]. Fins are valued for shark-fin soup [8]; liver as source of oil [3].

Near Threatened

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Physical Description

Habitat

May be found at depths of 20 to 75 meters. Blacktips are very common in coral reefs and tropical shallow lagoons .

Ecology: Most authors agree that Blacktip Reef Sharks range from 30?50 cm at birth. Adults reach total lengths of up to 180 cm and mature between 90?110 cm (Compagno 1984, Stevens 1984, Last and Stevens 1994).

Stomach contents show the primary item of prey to be teleost fishes (Lyle 1987, Stevens 1984, Last and Stevens 1994). Prey items also include crustaceans, cephalopods and other molluscs (Stevens 1984, Lyle 1987, Last and Stevens 1994). Interestingly, the species is also reported to have consumed terrestrial and sea snakes (Lyle 1987, Lyle and Timms 1987). Lyle (1987) also reported that predation upon other elasmobranchs was rare.

Information on reproductive biology is limited and conflicting. Blacktip Reef Sharks are viviparous with a yolk sac placenta and give birth to 2?4 pups (usually four) (Compagno 1984, Lyle 1987, Last and Stevens 1994). In northern Australia mating probably occurs in January and February, with parturition occurring in November (Lyle 1987). This cycle would allow an 8?9-month gestation period, however, Compagno (1984b), Melouk (1957) and Randall and Helfman (1973) list the gestation period for this species as being possibly 16 months. Observations of Blacktip Reef Sharks at the Aldabra Atoll (Indian Ocean) showed mating to occur in October?November and parturition the following October. These animals would therefore undergo a 10?11 month gestation period (Stevens 1984b). Stevens (1984b) also noted that individuals in this area generally breed every other year, but that this may be due to competition for food in the area because of its high shark population.[9].

List of Habitats :

•     9     Marine Neritic   
  
•     9.8     Marine Neritic - Coral Reef   
[more info]

Biology

Diet

Daytime hunters, they feed in small groups preying mostly on tropical reef fishes and cephalopods .

Reproduction

This shark is viviparous. The yolk sac is attached by a placenta. Two to four pups are born after a gestation period of about 16 months. The pups are 33-50 cm (13-20 in) at birth.

Behavior

Blacktips are not aggressive sharks , but they are curious and will approach divers and snorklers in the water. By tagging these sharks, scientists have found that they rarely migrate very far from a given area. They like shallow water around reefs and will sometimes jump over coral , coming right out of the water. These leaps are frequently sighted on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

Taxonomy

Synonyms

Carcharhinus melanoptures (Quoy & Gaimard • Carcharias commersoni (Blainville • Carcharias elegans Ehrenberg • Carcharias marianensis Engelhardt • Carcharias melanopterus • Carcharias melanopterus Quoy & Gaimard • Carcharias playfairii Günther • Carcharinus melanoptera (Quoy & Gaimard • Carcharinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard • Hypoprion playfairi< /i> (Günther • Mapolamia spallanzanii (Non Peron & Lesueur • Squalus carcharias minor Forsskål • Squalus commersonii Blainville • Squalus ustus Dum �ril

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 28-Oct-2000

Similar Species

Members of the genus Carcharhinus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 36 species and subspecies in this genus:

C. acronotus (Blacknose Shark) · C. ahenea (Shortnose Blacktail Shark) · C. albimarginatus (Silvertip Shark) · C. altimus (Knopp´s Shark) · C. amblyrhynchoides (Graceful Shark) · C. amblyrhynchos (Shortnose Blacktail Shark) · C. amboinensis (Ambon Sharpnose Puffer) · C. azureus (Large Blacktip Shark) · C. borneensis (Borneo Mullet) · C. brachyurus (Black-Tipped Whaler) · C. brevipinna (Blacktipped Shark) · C. cautus (Sharks Bay Whaler Shark) · C. dussumieri (Whitecheek Shark) · C. falciformis (Sickle-Shaped Shark) · C. fitzroyensis (Creek Whaler Shark) · C. galapagensis (Galapagos Shark) · C. hemiodon (Pondicherry Shark) · C. isodon (Fintooth Shark) · C. leiodon (Smoothtooth Blacktip Shark) · C. leucas (Bull Shark) · C. limbatus (Blacktip Shark) · C. longimanus (Brown Milbert's Sand Bar Shark) · C. macloti (Hardnose Shark) · C. melanopterus (Black Fin Reef Shark) · C. obscurus (Dusky Shark) · C. perezi (Caribbean Reef Shark) · C. perezii (Caribbean Reef Shark) · C. plumbeus (Northern Whaler Shark) · C. porosus (Tiburon Peninsula Limia) · C. sealei (Black-Spot Shark) · C. signatus (Night Shark) · C. sorrah (West Australian Whaler Shark) · C. springeri (Reef Shark) · C. tilstoni (Australian Blacktip Shark) · C. velox (Whitenose Shark) · C. wheeleri (Blacktail Reef Shark)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Chagos Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean / Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1989. url p. 4, p. 91.
• Annual report for the year ended June 30. .. / the United States National Museum. [Washington]: Smithsonian Institution, [1952-1964] url p. 107.
• Bulletin - United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.];1877-1971. url , , p. 13, p. 13, p. 3.
• Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). London: BM(NH) url p. 128, p. 161.
• Coral Reefs of the World. url p. 67.
• Current bibliography for aquatic sciences and fisheries. London, Taylor & Francis ltd. url p. 196.
• Dangerous marine animals. Cambridge, Md., Cornell Maritime Press, 1959. url p. 108, p. 109, p. 139.
• Dean bibliography of fishes. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1971-1973. url p. 184, p. 198, p. 214, p. 215, p. 491, p. 9.
• Fishery bulletin / U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service. Washington, D.C.: The Service: url p. 207, p. 209, p. 803, p. 804, p. 805, p. 912.
• From fish to philosopher; the story of our internal environment. Supplement with collaboration of CIBA Pharmaceutical Products Inc. Summit, N. J., CIBA Pharmaceutical Products Inc., c1959 url p. 284, p. 68.
• NOAA technical report NMFS SSRF. Seattle, Wash.: National Marine Fisheries Service; url p. 9.
• Occasional papers of the California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, url p. 31.
• Oceanus. Woods Hole, Mass., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution url p. 33, p. 37, p. 38, p. 49.
• Pacific Plate biogeography, with special reference to shorefishes / Victor G. Springer. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1982. url p. 28.
• Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. Washington, Biological Society of Washington url p. 92, p. 94, p. 95.
• Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series. San Francisco, California Academy of Sciences. url p. 67.
• Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.] url p. 91.
• Results of the first Joint US-USSR Central Pacific Expedition (BERPAC): Autumn 1988 / John F. Turner, . .. [et al.]; P.A. Nagel, editor. Washington, DC: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1992. url p. 98.
• Sensory biology of sharks, skates, and rays / editors Edward S. Hodgson, Robert F. Mathewson. Arlington, Va.: Office of Naval Research, Dept. of the Navy: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1978. url p. 103, p. 225, p. 410, p. 569, p. 571, p. 581, p. 81, p. 97.
• Shadows in the sea: the sharks, skates and rays [by] Harold W. McCormick and Tom Allen, with William E. Young. Philadelphia, Chilton Books[1963] url p. 162, p. 397.
• Shark research: present status and future direction / Bernard J. Zahuranec, editor and workshop convenor. Arlington, Va.: Office of Naval Research. Dept. of the Navy, 1975. url p. 50.
• The Australian zoologist. Sydney, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales url p. 227.
• The Bulletin of zoological nomenclature. London, International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. url p. 2.
• The Natural history of Enewetak Atoll / edited by Dennis M. Devaney. .. [et al.]; prepared by Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Office of Health and Environmental Research, Ecological Research Division, c1987. url p. 133, p. 154, p. 290, p. 323.

Notes

Contributors

• Aquarium of the Pacific
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 9, 2012.
• Compagno, Leonard J.V. (from FishBase).
• FishBase. Release date: January 5, 2010
• Froese, R., and D. Pauly. FishBase 2004. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 8 providers.
• Heupel, M. 2000. Carcharhinus melanopterus. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. &lt;www.iucnredlist.org&gt;. Downloaded on 21 October 2006.
• Heupel, M. 2000. In IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCNRedList.org. Downloaded July 18, 2008.
• Heupel, M. 2009. Carcharhinus melanopterus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloadedon 31January2012.
• IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. . Downloaded on January 28, 2012.
• Ruggiero M., Gordon D., Bailly N., Kirk P., Nicolson D. (2011). The Catalogue of Life Taxonomic Classification, Edition 2, Part A. In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D., eds). DVD; Species 2000: Reading, UK.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: AIMS - Baited Remote Underwater Video Station (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: CSIRO Marine Data Warehouse (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Shark Collection
• Marine Science Institute, UCSB: Paleobiology Database
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Fish Collection
• National Chemical Laboratory: IndOBIS, Indian Ocean Node of OBIS
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums
• Royal Ontario Museum: Fish specimens
• Senckenberg: Collection Pisces

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3863122
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-23063
• Fishbase Species ID: 877
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13529401
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 160365
• IUCN ID: 197936
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 105889

Footnotes

1. Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2. Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. (125, Vol. 4, Part 2), 655 p. [back]
2. Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens (1994). Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. [back]
3. Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem (1998). Carcharhinidae. Requiem sharks. p. 1312-1360. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO, Rome. [back]
4. Dulvy, N.K. and J.D. Reynolds (1997). Evolutionary transitions among egg-laying, live-bearing and maternal inputs in sharks and rays. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 264:1309-1315. [back]
5. Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell (1990). A colour atlas of dangerous marine animals. Wolfe Medical Publications Ltd, W.S. Cowell Ltd, Ipswich, England. 192 p. [back]
6. Myers, R.F. (1991). Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. [back]
7. Sousa, M.I. and M. Dias (1981). Catálogo de peixes de Moçambique - Zona Sul. Instituto de Desenvolvimento Pesqueiro, Maputo. 121 p. [back]
8. Frimodt, C. (1995). Multilingual illustrated guide to the world's commercial warmwater fish. Fishing News Books, Osney Mead, Oxford, England. 215 p. [back]
9. Heupel, M. 2009. Carcharhinus melanopterus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 31 January 2012. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.