Caribbean reef shark

Photo: Victoria W · CC BY-NC

The dominant large shark on Caribbean coral reefs, characterised by a stocky build and rounded snout. Caribbean reef sharks patrol reef edges and drop-offs, often in loose groups, and are the species most commonly encountered in Caribbean shark dives. They are opportunistic predators of fish and cephalopods, and play a critical top-down regulatory role on the reef. Near threatened; heavily fished for fins and meat across their range. At sites with dive tourism value, local protection has allowed populations to partially recover.