Species of Concern
Blacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
About This Species
This reef shark patrols shallow lagoons, reef flats and sandy shallows across the Indo-Pacific, often visible from a boat or while wading at low tide as a dark shape with unmistakable black-tipped fins. It is most active around dawn, dusk and rising tides, when it moves into shallow water to hunt small fish. Snorkelling over a reef flat at these times offers the best chance of a sighting, usually of the shark cruising rather than staying still.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species is IUCN-listed as vulnerable, so extra caution is warranted: never chase, corner or attempt to touch an individual, and give it a clear path to move away, especially in shallow water where it has limited room to manoeuvre.
- Marine protected area rules on approach distance and diver conduct vary widely by country and even by specific reserve, so check local regulations rather than assuming a single global standard.
- If a shark shows signs of stress, such as rapid swimming or tight circling, retreat calmly and increase distance immediately.
VUElasmobranchiiCarcharhiniformesCarcharhinidae
Seasonal Activity
226,127 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Carcharhiniformes
- Family
- Carcharhinidae
Photo
(c) zsispeo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.