Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

General data

Main name: Grey reef shark
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean

Classification

Genus: Carcharhinus - Reef shark
Family: Carcharhinidae - Requiem sharks
Order: Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, sometimes misspelled amblyrhynchus or amblyrhinchos) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. One of the most common reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific, it is found as far east as Easter Island and as far west as South Africa. This species is most often seen in shallow water near the drop-offs of coral reefs. It has the typical reef shark shape, with a broad, round snout and large eyes. It can be distinguished from similar species by the plain or white-tipped first dorsal fin, the dark tips on the other fins, the broad, black rear margin on the tail fin, and the lack of a ridge between the dorsal fins. Most individuals are less than 1.88 m (6.2 ft) long. The grey reef shark is a fast-swimming, agile predator that feeds primarily on free-swimming bony fishes and cephalopods. Its aggressive demeanor enables it to dominate many other shark species on the reef, despite its moderate size. Many grey reef sharks have a home range on a specific area of the reef, to which they continually return. However, they are social rather than territorial. During the day, these sharks often form groups of five to 20 individuals near coral reef drop-offs, splitting up in the evening as the sharks begin to hunt. Adult females also form groups in very shallow water, where the higher water temperature may accelerate their growth or that of their unborn young. Like other members of its family, the grey reef shark is viviparous, meaning the mother nourishes her embryos through a placental connection. Litters of one to six pups are born every other year. The grey reef shark was the first shark species known to perform a threat display, a stereotypical behavior warning that it is prepared to attack. The display involves a hunched posture with characteristically dropped pectoral fins, and an exaggerated, side-to-side swimming motion. Grey reef sharks often do so if they are followed or cornered by divers to indicate they perceive a threat. This species has been responsible for a number of attacks on humans, and should be treated with caution, especially if it begins to display. It has been caught in many fisheries and is susceptible to local population depletion due to its low reproduction rate and limited dispersal. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as endangered.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
    
    Carcharhinidae - Requiem sharks->
    
    Prionace - Blue sharks->
    
    Carcharhinus - Reef shark->
    
    Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
    
    Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
    
    Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
    
    Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
    
    Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)
    
    Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
    
    Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
    
    Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
    
    Bignose shark (Carcharhinus altimus)
    
    Graceful shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides)
    
    Pigeye shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis)
    
    Borneo shark (Carcharhinus borneensis)
    
    Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
    
    Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)
    
    Nervous shark (Carcharhinus cautus)
    
    Pacific smalltail shark (Carcharhinus cerdale)
    
    Carcharhinus coatesi (Carcharhinus coatesi)
    
    Whitecheek shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri)
    
    Creek whaler (Carcharhinus fitzroyensis)
    
    Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
    
    Human’s whaler shark (Carcharhinus humani)
    
    Finetooth shark (Carcharhinus isodon)
    
    Smooth tooth blacktip shark (Carcharhinus leiodon)
    
    Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
    
    Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
    
    Hardnose shark (Carcharhinus macloti)
    
    Carcharhinus macrops (Carcharhinus macrops)
    
    Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
    
    Lost shark (Carcharhinus obsoletus)
    
    Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezii)
    
    Smalltail shark (Carcharhinus porosus)
    
    Blackspot shark (Carcharhinus sealei)
    
    Night shark (Carcharhinus signatus)
    
    Spot-tail shark (Carcharhinus sorrah)
    
    Australian blacktip shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni)
    
    Carcharhinus tjutjot (Carcharhinus tjutjot)
    
    Negaprion - Negaprion->
    
    Triaenodon - Triaenodon->
    
    Rhizoprionodon - Sharpnose sharks->
    
    Glyphis - Glyphis->
    
    Isogomphodon - Isogomphodon->
    
    Lamiopsis - Lamiopsis->
    
    Loxodon - Loxodon->
    
    Nasolamia - Nasolamia->
    
    Scoliodon - Scoliodon->
    
    Scyliorhinidae - Cat sharks->
    
    Pentanchidae - Deepwater catsharks->
    
    Triakidae - Houndsharks->
    
    Sphyrnidae - Hammerheads->
    
    Atelomycteridae - Coloured catsharks->
    
    Galeocerdonidae - Tiger sharks->
    
    Hemigaleidae - Weasel sharks->
    
    Leptochariidae - Barbeled houndsharks->
    
    Proscylliidae - Finback catsharks->
    
    Pseudotriakidae - False catsharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->