Whitetip reef shark

Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC

A slender, nocturnal predator instantly identified by the white tips on its dorsal and caudal fins. During the day, whitetips rest motionless in groups on sandy ledges or inside reef caves — divers frequently swim directly over resting aggregations. At night they become highly active hunters, pursuing fish and octopus through reef crevices with remarkable agility. Unlike many sharks, they are non-territorial toward divers and typically ignore human presence. Listed as vulnerable; their slow reproductive rate makes populations sensitive to fishing pressure.