Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus · try-EN-oh-don oh-BEE-sus
nocturnalsolitaryVulnerable
EdibleUnfriendlyDangerous
Superpower
Can pump water over its gills while lying still, so it rests on the seabed for hours.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 150 cm, up to 213 cm
- Lifespan
- 14–25 years
- Depth
- 1–330 m
Habitat
Coral reefs, often resting in caves and under ledges by day.
Diet
Reef fish, octopus and crustaceans, hunted at night.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 4/10.
How to cook: Eaten locally but carries conservation concerns.
Safety
- Dangerous3/10
Generally placid; bites are rare and usually provoked.
Fun facts
- Unlike many sharks, it can stop swimming and rest on the bottom.
- It squeezes into reef crevices to corner sleeping fish at night.
- Whitetips are named for the bright white tips on their fins.