Silvertip shark
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| Carcharhinus albimarginatus (Rüppell, 1837) |
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 Range of silvertip shark
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The silvertip shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, is a fairly large and slender shark found at or close to offshore remote island reefs.
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[edit] Naming
The silvertip shark is named because of its white marking on all fins.
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The silvertip shark is found near reefs at depths to about 800 m, mostly below 30 m, in the Red Sea and along the coasts of East Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Aldabra Group, Mauritius and the Chagos Archipelago, off southern Japan to northern Australia and French Polynesia, southern Baja California, Mexico to Colombia, including the Cocos Island, Galapagos and Revillagigedo islands. They tend to be fairly localised and do not migrate.
[edit] Anatomy and appearance
This is a fairly large but slender shark, dark gray with a white belly. It looks like most gray requiem sharks with the white tips and margins on all fins distinguishing it from its relatives. They grow to a length of 3 m and the maximum published weight is 162.2 kg.
[edit] Diet
They feed mainly on benthic and midwater fishes, including rays, small sharks, and occasionally cephalopods.
[edit] Behavior
They have been known to harass divers, but reports of attacks are very rare.
[edit] Reproduction
The silvertip is viviparous and usually give birth to from 5 to 11 young. The young are born after a gestation period of 12 months at a size of about 50 to 60 cm.
[edit] Importance to humans
This shark is seen occasionally by scuba divers and is presumably fished.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Carcharhinus albimarginatus (TSN 160354). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 26 May 2006.
- "Carcharhinus albimarginatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 09 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
- Silvertip shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus MarineBio"
[edit] Gallery
 Silvertip Shark, New Hanover Island, Papua New Guinea. |
 Silvertip Shark, New Hanover Island, Papua New Guinea. |
 Silvertip Shark, New Hanover Island, Papua New Guinea. |
 Silvertip Shark, New Hanover Island, Papua New Guinea. |
 Silvertip Shark, New Hanover Island, Papua New Guinea. |
