Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
Carcharhinus
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Dark grey or bronze-grey above, white below; caudal fin with a conspicuous wide black posterior margin; undersides of pectoral and pelvic fins with black tips and posterior margins, but fins otherwise not conspicuously black or white-tipped except for white-tipped first dorsal in some individuals (Ref. 9997).
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific to Central Pacific: Madagascar and the Mauritius-Seychelles area to Tuamoto Archipelago; north to southern China; south to northern Australia.
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. depth range 0-1000 m. Found in: coral reefs.
Biology
Occurs on continental and insular shelves and oceanic waters adjacent to them (Ref. 244). Common on coral reefs, often in deeper areas near drop-offs to the open sea, in atoll passes, and in shallow lagoons adjacent to areas of strong currents (Ref. 244). Coastal-pelagic near the bottom, near drop-offs at 1-275 m (Ref. 58302). Forms daytime schools or aggregations in favored areas (Ref. 244). Although active during the day, it is more active nocturnally (Ref. 244). Viviparous, with 1-6 pups (Ref. 37816). Feeds on reef fishes, squids, octopi, crabs, lobsters and shrimps (Ref. 244, 5578). Tends to be aggressive under baited conditions (Ref. 6871) and readily enters into a frenzy feeding pattern, at which time it may become quite dangerous. Repeatedly incriminated in human attacks. Utilized for human consumption, fishmeal, and other shark products. Minimum depth from Ref. 6871. Maximum length of female taken from Ref. 5213.
Max length: 255.0 cm TL; max weight: 33700 g; max age: 25 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers). Viviparous, placental (Ref. 50449). 1-6 pups in a litter (Ref. 244). Gestation period about 12 months (Ref. 244). Size at birth 50 to 60 cm (Ref. 26346, 37816) or 75 cm (Ref. 244). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN), assessed 2020-07-03. Resilience: Very low (tm=7; tmax=25; K=0.05-0.86; Fec=1-6).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Compagno, L.J.V. (1984) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO.
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990) Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p.
Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem (1998) Carcharhinidae. Requiem sharks. p. 1312-1360. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific Vol. 2. Rome: FAO.
Salini, J.P., S.J. Blaber and D.T. Brewer (1992) Diets of sharks from estuaries and adjacent waters of the north-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 43(1):87-96.
Cortés, E. (1999) Standardized diet compositions and trophic levels of sharks. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 56:707-717.
Florida Museum of Natural History (2005) Biological profiles: grey reef shark. Retrieved on 26 August 2005, from www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/GReefShark/GReefShark.html. Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History: Education-Biological Profiles. FLMNH, University of Florida.
Compagno, L.J.V., D. Dando and S. Fowler (2005) Sharks of the world. Princeton field guides. Harper Collins Publishing Ltd., London. 368 p.
Comments On Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos