Blacktail reef shark – Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Blacktail reef shark, Grey Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Size: 255 cm
Depth: 0 - 1000 m

American Samoa, Andaman and Nicobar, Australia, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands, Guam, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Mozambique, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Reunion Island, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States Minor Outlying Islands, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Yemen

Bay of Bengal, Celebes Sea, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Thailand, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Tasman Sea

The Grey Reef Shark, scientifically known as Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, is a common and widely distributed shark species. It is a large, powerful predator found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.

Description & Characteristics

The Grey Reef Shark is a robust shark with a distinctive, elongated snout and large, prominent eyes. They typically have a grey to brown coloration on their dorsal surface, fading to white on their ventral side. The shark’s coloration allows it to blend in with the reef environment, providing excellent camouflage for hunting.

Grey Reef Sharks can grow up to a maximum size of 255 cm in length.

Habitat and Occurrence

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos is a common inhabitant of coastal waters, particularly in areas with coral reefs and rocky bottoms. They can be found in a wide range of depths, from the surface to depths of up to 1000 meters. The species is a highly adaptable predator, making it successful in diverse marine ecosystems.

Grey Reef Sharks are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, including the Indo-Pacific region, the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Their wide distribution is a testament to their adaptability and resilience, making them a prevalent presence in these aquatic ecosystems.

Taxonomy

The Grey Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, belongs to the Class: Elasmobranchii, Order: Carcharhiniformes, and Family: Carcharhinidae. Elasmobranchii is a class of cartilaginous fishes that includes sharks, rays, and skates. The order Carcharhiniformes is a large and diverse group of sharks, which includes the majority of requiem sharks, including the Grey Reef Shark. The family Carcharhinidae encompasses a wide variety of sharks, including the well-known blacktip reef shark and the bull shark.

Feeding

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos is a highly opportunistic predator and a significant component of the marine food web. Their diet consists mainly of bony fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They are known to hunt a variety of prey, including big fish, crabs, crustaceans, edible crabs, fish (little fishes), lobsters, rock shrimps, schrimps, sepia, shrimps, small sharks. Their predatory nature plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem.

Associated Species

Image References

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