How big do blacktip reef sharks get?

Adults typically attain about 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length, with females larger than males.

Are blacktip reef sharks dangerous to people?

They are generally timid and skittish and seldom pose a danger unless provoked by food, but people wading in shallow water can receive accidental bites.

What do blacktip reef sharks eat?

They prey on small bony fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and have also been known to eat sea snakes and seabirds.

Where are blacktip reef sharks commonly found?

They are commonly found over reef ledges and sandy flats in shallow, inshore tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and sometimes in brackish or freshwater areas.

What is their conservation status?

The species is assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to declines in some localities from overfishing.

How many pups are born at a time?

Females give birth to two to five young per litter.

Where to See Blacktip Reef Shark While Diving

Q: How do blacktip reef sharks reproduce?

They are viviparous; females give birth to two to five young on cycles reported as annual, biennial, or possibly biannual, with gestation reports varying by location.

Q: Do blacktip reef sharks stay in one area?

Yes — they have extremely small home ranges and strong site fidelity, often remaining within the same local area for up to several years.

The blacktip reef shark is a requiem shark identifiable by prominent black tips on its fins, especially the first dorsal and caudal fins. It inhabits tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and prefers shallow, inshore waters such as reef ledges and sandy flats, and can enter brackish and freshwater environments. Adults typically reach about 1.6 m (5.2 ft), with females larger than males. This species has very small home ranges and strong site fidelity, often remaining in the same local area for years. It is an active predator of small bony fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and has been recorded feeding on sea snakes and seabirds. Reproduction is viviparous: females give birth to two to five young on cycles reported as annual, biennial, or possibly biannual; reported gestation periods vary geographically. The species is generally timid and skittish, rarely posing a danger to humans unless provoked by food, though shallow-water wading can result in accidental bites. The blacktip reef shark is used for meat, fins, and liver oil.

Although widespread and relatively common overall, the species has declined in several areas due to overfishing of this slow-reproducing shark; it is assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Shows extremely small home ranges and strong site fidelity, often remaining within the same local area for up to several years.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Togean Islands and Tomini Coast, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Bunaken and Manado (North Sulawesi) and countries such as Indonesia, French Polynesia, Malaysia for divers building trips around blacktip reef sharks.