What's a Blacktip Reef Shark?

[der kaiser]

Blacktip Reef Sharks are one of the most abundant sharks in the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacfic Oceans. Named for the prominent black tips on its fins, the Blacktip Reef Shark prefers shallow, inshore waters and cannot usually be found deeper than 10m. Males mature at eight years, while females at nine years. Every 1-2 years, females give birth to 2-5 babies, after a gestation period of 7-11 months. Blacktip Reef Sharks grow to a typical length of 1.6m and can stay in the same local area for several years at a time. Preying mostly on small bony fishes, cephalopods & crustaceans, Blacktip Reef Sharks are actually very timid and often difficult to approach. Unfortunately, Blacktips are vulnerable to depletion due to their small litter sizes and long gestation period. Blacktip Reef Sharks can be snorkeled with on Koh Tao at Lam Thien bay.