Blacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus · kar-kar-RY-nus mel-an-OP-ter-us
diurnalsolitaryVulnerable
EdibleUnfriendlyDangerous
Superpower
Thrives in water so shallow its black-tipped fin slices above the surface.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 120 cm, up to 200 cm
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
- Depth
- 0–75 m
Habitat
Shallow reef flats and lagoons, often with its fin breaking the surface.
Diet
Small reef fish, mullet and crustaceans.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 4/10.
How to cook: Eaten in local fisheries; flesh sold fresh or dried.
Safety
- Dangerous2/10
Timid; only a few harmless nips on waders are recorded.
Fun facts
- It is one of the most common sharks on Indo-Pacific reef flats.
- Its black-and-white-tipped fins make it easy to identify.
- Young blacktips use shallow nurseries to stay safe from larger predators.