How many teeth does a reef shark have?
The grey reef shark has a streamlined, moderately stout body with a long, blunt snout and large, round eyes. The upper and lower jaws each have 13 or 14 teeth (usually 14 in the upper and 13 in the lower). The upper teeth are triangular with slanted cusps, while the bottom teeth have narrower, erect cusps.
How big can black tip reef sharks get?
Most blacktip reef sharks are no more than 1.6 m (5.2 ft) long, though rarely individuals may reach 1.8 m (5.9 ft) or possibly 2.0 m (6.6 ft).
What do black tip reef sharks look like?
Blacktip reef sharks are named for the characteristic black tips or margins on their fins. They have a short, round snout and angled, saw-like teeth. Their coloring provides camouflage from above or below; a dark back helps them blend in with the dim seafloor and a white belly blends in with the brighter ocean surface.
What kind of teeth does a blacktip reef shark have?
The blacktip reef shark has long, thin, serrated teeth suited for its diet of reef fish. The teeth are located in rows, which rotate after teeth become worn down or broken off. The first two rows are used in obtaining prey; the other rows function as reserves that rotate into place when they are needed.
How many pups does a blacktip reef shark have?
The blacktip reef shark is generally a solitary eater, but has been observed hunting in small groups. These sharks are viviparous and have litters of 2-4 pups after a 16 month gestation period. The blacktip reef shark is a very common shark.
What kind of food does a blacktip reef shark eat?
The Blacktip Reef Shark has narrow oblique cusped teeth on top, and narrow serrated ones on bottom. This allows the shark to not only pierce the flesh but cut into it much like a steak knife. Because of the way that their teeth are structured, it allows the sharks to feed on organisms such as crustaceans, molluscs,…
Why are there so many blacktip sharks in Florida?
Scientists believe most of the shark bites in Florida can be attributed to the Blacktip Shark. In Florida, Blacktip sharks account for 16% of shark attacks, resulting in minor wounds. While not an aggressive shark, the Blacktip Shark will protect its food. What does the Blacktip Shark eat? Blacktip Sharks are carnivores.
The blacktip reef shark has narrow, serrated upper teeth with an erect to oblique cusp and cusplets. The lower teeth are also narrow with finely serrated edges. Tooth counts range from 23-28 in the upper jaw and 21-27 in the lower jaw (Compagno 1984).
What kind of shark has black tips on its fins?
The prominent black tips on all fins distinguishes this species from others that it may otherwise be easily confused. Blacktip reef shark are a brown-tan color on the dorsal surface with white countershading on the underside.
Where does a blacktip shark live as an adult?
However, as adults, Blacktip reef shark generally come about in shallow areas of forereef going over the reef to the flat reef at the tide of the flood. Most adults individually dwell in a home of 2.5square km range and they stay close to their home reef.
Why are blacktip reef sharks on the decline?
Blacktip reef sharks are often the by catch from other fisheries and are often wasted. Their populations are declining and so are the population of many other shark species. Their fins are used for shark fin soup which is a major factor in the population decline in recent years.
What does a black tip reef shark look like?
Are blacktip reefs dangerous?
The blacktip reef shark is not an extremely dangerous species, although it is responsible for several provoked and unprovoked attacks on humans. Many are on people that are swimming or wading on reefs, presumably because they were mistaken for prey.
