Silvertip shark

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iSilvertip shark

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Carcharhiniformes
Family:	Carcharhinidae
Genus:	Carcharhinus
Species:	C. albimarginatus

Binomial name

Carcharhinus albimarginatus
(Rüppell, 1837)

Range of silvertip shark

Sharks Portal

The silvertip shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, is a fairly large and slender shark found at or close to offshore remote island reefs.

1 Naming
2 Distribution and habitat
3 Anatomy and appearance
4 Diet
5 Behavior
6 Reproduction
7 Importance to humans
8 See also
9 References

[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 can 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.