Whitetip Reef Shark

Photo: David R · CC BY-NC

Whitetip reef sharks are the most commonly encountered shark on Indo-Pacific reefs, resting in caves and under overhangs during the day and becoming active at night to hunt fish and octopus through cooperative pack-hunting behaviour that flushes prey from reef crevices. Unlike most sharks they can pump water across their gills while stationary, allowing prolonged rest in sheltered spots on thilas. They are highly site-faithful and individual sharks can be identified from distinctive fin markings over years of monitoring.