Species profile
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
At a glance
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) is an IUCN Vulnerable shark or ray present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 457 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Listed under CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Unlike most sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks can rest motionless on the seafloor and still breathe.
- They typically reach 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) and rarely exceed 2.1 meters.
- Strongly nocturnal, they hunt reef fish and octopus almost exclusively at night.
- During the day they often pack together in caves or under ledges in groups of dozens.
- They give birth to small litters of just 1–5 pups and can live around 25 years.
Where Whitetip Reef Shark are seen
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (Carcharhinidae — all requiem sharks, CoP19 effective Nov 2023).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The whitetip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. It is the only extant species of genus Triaenodon. A small shark that does not usually exceed 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length, this species is easily recognizable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils, oval eyes with vertical pupils, and white-tipped dorsal and…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Whitetip Reef Shark article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.