Transcript:

Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing whitetip sharks. There are technically multiple species known as whitetip sharks, and even silvertip sharks, so in the interest of brevity we’ll discuss two whitetip sharks with today’s episode: the whitetip reef shark and the oceanic whitetip shark. These two sharks are classified in the same family of sharks, however they are separated into different genera. Whitetip reef sharks are small, typically reaching no longer than 5 feet in length, live towards the bottom of coral reefs between 20 and 130 feet deep, and spend most of their days hanging out in reef crevices and caves. Unlike many sharks in their family, whitetip reef sharks do not need to keep swimming in order to obtain oxygen, so they’ll just hang out on the floor of the ocean until nightfall when they come out to hunt. Conversely, oceanic whitetip sharks can reach nearly double the length of whitetip reef sharks and prefer to swim above deep waters, typically staying within 500 feet (152m) from the surface. While they have been sighted in coastal waters, they’re mostly identified with the open ocean - hence their common name. Yes, these sharks actually have common names that make sense!

Oceanic whitetips have a white shark like silhouette while whitetip reef sharks almost look lopsided with their large heads and narrow bodies. Whitetip reef sharks also have flattened snouts and tubular nostrils while oceanic whitetip sharks have pointy noses. The first dorsal fin on an oceanic whitetip shark is quite rounded while a whitetip reef shark’s first dorsal fin comes to a point. In general, whitetip reef sharks are considered less aggressive than oceanic whitetip sharks, but people have swum with both species and lived to tell the tale.

Both of these sharks are found throughout most of the world’s tropical and temperate oceans, however, whitetip reef sharks are somewhat restricted due to their preference for reef-like habitat and aren’t known from the Atlantic ocean. Whitetip reef sharks are homebodies and have been documented remaining in the same area for years while oceanic whitetip sharks may make larger movements in their open habitats. Whitetip reef sharks are often seen with many other white tip reef sharks but oceanic whitetip sharks are quite solitary, though they may have groups of fish following them. Oceanic whitetip sharks are active both day and night, but whitetip reef sharks are almost exclusively active at night.

These sharks both eat similar prey though in different ways. Whitetip reef sharks are somewhat clumsy and will take bony fishes as well as cephalopods and crustaceans from crevices in the reef which the sharks’ slender bodies can easily slip through. Oceanic whitetips on the other hand swim through schools of fish with an open mouth to see what it can catch. They’ve also been known to eat sea turtles, cephalopods, and whale poop!

Both of these shark species produce live offspring after a gestation period of about a year. The bigger oceanic whitetips produce about a dozen pups per litter after a year long gestation period. Smaller whitetip reef sharks have litters of about 1-5 pups and their gestation lasts a little over five month. Both oceanic whitetips and whitetip reef sharks are estimated to live up to 20 or more years in the wild.

There is another shark with the common name “whitetip” - the whitetip weasel shark; however, only one specimen has ever been caught, so we’ll have to wait until more information surfaces before we can discuss them.

For more facts on whitetip sharks, check out the links in the description. Thank you to Loyen for today’s request! Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today, and thank you for watching Animal Fact Files!