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COMMON NAMES;
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Oceanic whitetip shark, Whitetip shark, white-tipped shark, Whitetip whaler. |
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LATIN NAME(S);
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Carcharhinus longimanus |
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FAMILY;
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Carcharhinidae |
| IDENTIFICATION; |
Long, broadly rounded pectoral and first dorsal fins. Blotchy white colouration on tips of pectoral, first dorsal, pelvic, and lower caudal fins. Second dorsal and anal fin tipped in black. Dorsal colouration olive brown to bronze. Ventral surface pale.
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| SIZE; |
Maximum length 3.95m. Usually under 3m. 60 to 75cm at birth. |
| HABITAT; |
Open Ocean. May cruise close to isolated islets but is not a common inshore visitor. To at least 180m depth |
| DISTRIBUTION; |
Circumtropical and temperate. Recorded in the Western Atlantic from New York to Uruguay. Commonly seen around the Hawaiian Islands. In some places most common open ocean shark |
| BEHAVIOR; |
Cruises over deep reefs and through open oceanic regions in search of oceanic bony fishes such as tuna. Sometimes follows pods of pilot whales probably due to their ability to find squid and may feed on injured individuals. Oceanic whitetips can lift their noses out of the water and sniff the air to find prey over greater distances than by following water borne scent trails. May congregate around food sources such as whale carcasses (where it dominates similarly sized sharks such as blues) but most often solitary |
| REPRODUCTION; |
Viviparous. Litter size 1 - 15 depending on the size of the mother. Gestation period around 12 months |
| REACTION TO DIVERS; |
An extremely inquisitive shark. The Oceanic whitetip may circle swimmers or divers repeatedly if it thinks it may have a potential meal. Extreme caution should be shown around this animal especially larger individuals. It is responsible for many attacks on ship wreck victims as documented after the sinking of the ship Nova Scotia off the Natal Coast during the second world war |
| DIVE OPERATOR; |
This article was written about the authors encounters with Oceanic whitetip sharks while diving The Two Brothers Islands in the Red Sea.
For opportunities to encounter oceanics here please visit www.redseadivers.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: Shark Diving is an extreme sport. It carries a considerable risk of personal injury or death. Do not participate in these activities unless you are an expert, have sought or obtained qualified professional instruction or guidance, are knowledgeable about the risks involved and are willing to assume personal responsibility for all the risks involved with this sport.
When planning any shark trip make sure to do your homework. There is NEVER any guarantees you will see any sharks at these dive sites. Luck and time of year are the most important factors for any shark trip.
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