Not just Shark
Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and
chimaera's from around the world. It began as a simple web based
field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter
different species of sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into
a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark
diving and photography. There are now more than a thousand shark
pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and
conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a
constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark
links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and
stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to
check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on
an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:
If you're looking for a
broader range of marine life pictures the following links represent
a new area that contains pictures on other marine organisms and on
marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is in its first
stages but will eventually include pages on everything from sea
stars to nudibranchs. Creating this portal will take time and for
now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please return
regularly to enjoy the progress.
Common
Names: Whitetip
reef shark, Whitetip shark.
Latin
Name: Triaenodon
obesus
Family:
Carcharhinidae
Identification:
Slender
body. Dorsum grey to grey/brown sometimes with darker spots or blotches. Ventrum
pale. Fins dusky. Dorsal and pelvic fins pointed. First dorsal and upper lobe of
caudal fin tipped in white. Small barbells present on wide, flat snout.
Size:
Maximum
length 210cm. 56 cm at birth.
Habitat:
Coral and rocky reef flats / slopes and in lagoons. To 40m.
Abundance
and distribution: Found
through out the Indo Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific from Islas de
Revillagigedo to Galapagos.
Behavior:Rests
under ledges, in caves, and in sand gutters between reefs during the day and
hunts for reef fishes, crabs, lobsters, and octopus at night.
Reproduction:
Viviparous.
Litter size 1-5. Gestation period 13 months.
Observations:Often
seen resting in groups and sometimes seen hunting in large aggressive masses
(see photograph on second page).
Photographs:
Cocos
Island.
Similar species:The
whitetip reef shark is easily distinguished from other carcharhinids by its
slender body and habits.
Reaction to divers:When encountered
at rest generally lifts off the bottom and swims slowly away. May ignore divers
completely if part of a hunting mob. Not considered dangerous unless
speared fish are present at which point it may become aggressive.
Diving
logistics: The
whitetip is encountered on a very regular basis on many dives throughout the
tropical Indo Pacific and is usually the most commonly seen shark. At Cocos
Island whitetips are seen at night by divers in marauding packs breaking up the
reef to get at hidden fish and other prey. The Undersea Hunter runs shark diving
expeditions to Cocos throughout the year.
Other diving locations submitted by
readers:
References
and further
reading:
Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.
Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
