Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Blacktip reef shark
Blacktip reef shark,  Lumba,  Bayanakon,  Iho,  Kaitan tutungan,  Lodlod,  Pantay,  Pating,  Pating inglesa,  Teburon,  Tutongan,  Tutungan
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Max. size:  200 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 75 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref. 68964), Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and the Tuamoto Archipelago. North to Japan and south to Australia. Apparently rare or absent in the more easterly groups. Also eastern Mediterranean (through the Suez Canal).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A small shark with a short, bluntly rounded snout, oval eyes, and narrow-cusped teeth; 2nd dorsal fin large; no interdorsal ridge (Ref. 5578). Yellow-brown above, white below; all fins conspicuous with black or dark brown tips also anterior and posterior dark edging on pectoral fins and upper lobe of caudal fin; a prominent black tip of first dorsal fin set off abruptly by a light band below it; a conspicuous dark band on flanks, extending rearward to pelvic fins (Ref. 9997).
Biology:  Inhabits shallow water close inshore on coral reefs and in the intertidal zone (reef flats), near reef drop-offs and close offshore (Ref. 244, 58302). Also found in mangrove areas, moving in and out with the tide (Ref. 6871) and even in fresh water, but not in tropical lakes and rivers far from the sea (Ref. 9997). Occurs singly or in small groups (Ref. 244, 54301). Prefers fishes but also feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods and other mollusks (Ref. 6871). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). May become aggressive to spear fishers and has been reported to bite people wading in shallow water (Ref. 6871). Reported to cause poisoning (Ref. 4690). 2 to 4 young of 46 to 52 cm are born per litter (Ref. 1602). Generally marketed fresh (as fillet), may be dried, salted, smoked (Ref. 5284) or frozen (Ref. 9987). Fins are valued for shark-fin soup (Ref. 9987); liver as source of oil (Ref. 9997). This species is commonly seen in public aquaria (Ref. 54301). Maximum reported weight from IGFA was 13.550 kg (Ref. 40637). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 15 July 2020 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic
Country info:  Recorded from Leyte, Cebu, Jolo Is. (Ref. 47737) and Lanuza Bay (Ref. 104756). Also Ref. 244, 280, 386, 6871, 9997, 26842, 47736, 47930, 110893, 121724. Occurrence: Manila Bay; Ataluyan Bay (Camarines Sur), Lagonoy Gulf, San Miguel Bay, Sorsogon Bay in Bicol; Abuyong, Cabalian and Carigara Bay, and Leyte Gulf, Leyte: TaƱon Strait, Pasil Fish Port I and market, Cebu City; Satellite Market, Bais City, Negros Oriental; Zamboanga market, Zamboanga; Panay Gulf, Jolo Is., Siasi, Sitankai, and Tubbataha Reefs, Sulu.


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