| Cartilaginous Fishes | Sharks |
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenadon obesus
| Conservation Status: Safe for Now
- 2
#2
- Courtesy of NMFS
- Photo taken in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands National Monument
The whitetip reef shark is slender and sleek with characteristic white markings on the tips of several of its fins. These markings gave it its common name, whitetip. It is an agile swimmer well suited for its mostly reef habitat existence.
Facts and Features
- Geographic Distribution
Australia, South Africa, the Red Sea, through the Indo-Pacific area, Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, Pitcairn Islands and the Hawaiian Islands and Galapagos Islands. Also ranges from Panama to Costa Rica, including Cocos Island.
- Amazing Facts
In Hawaii this shark is regarded by some people as a guardian spirit, aumakua, and is treated with reverence.
- At the Aquarium
Our whitetips inhabit the Aquarium's Shark Lagoon and Tropical Reef.
