Creature Feature – Silvertip Shark
The Silvertip shark is a large species of requiem sharks (sharks of the family Carcharhinidae, such as the bull shark, whitetip shark and blue shark) and is easily be distinguished by the prominent white margins on their fins.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharinidae
Genus: Carcharinus
© Ken Bondy
Silvertip Shark Fact File
Size: Individuals can reach a length of 3m and weigh up to 163kg
Distribution: This species has a wide distribution throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific but is absent from several areas e.g., the Red Sea and the Hawaiian Islands
Diet: Aggressive apex predators, they feed mainly on fishes, also rays (including eagle rays), cephalopods, and small sharks
Behaviour: Mating behaviour includes distinct pairing and occurs during the summer months in the southern hemisphere. The mode of reproduction is viviparous (live young)
IUCN Status: Vulnerable. These are slow-growing sharks, and remote populations are likely to be highly vulnerable to target fisheries for meat or fins, particularly if they have a limited dispersion between populations
