|
GREY WHALER SHARK FACTS |
Description
The Grey Whaler Shark is bronze to grey above with white underside. It has a black tail fin margin. The undersides of the pectoral and pelvic fins have black tips and black trailing margins. There is an indistinct stripe along the side from above the pelvic fins. The first dorsal fin may have a white tip and white trailing edge. It is inquisitive nature and often investigates disturbances and diver activity. It is potentially dangerous. When threatening it raises its head, arches its back, lowers the pectoral fins, and swims with exaggerated movements. Forms schools in daytime.
Other Names
Grey Reef Shark
Size
length: males to 2.5m; females to 1.7m. Weight to 34kg.
Habitat
The Grey Whaler Shark is found on coral reefs, reef drop-offs to open ocean, continental shelves, island shelves, shallow lagoons. It lives from the surface to depth of about 280m. .
Food
reef fish, squid, octopus, crabs, lobsters, shrimps
Breeding
Viviparous. Gives birth to 1-6 pups.
Range
The Grey Whaler Shark is found in tropical waters throughout the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is found from the central Western Australian coast, round the tropical north and down the east coast to southern Queensland.
Notes
Tends to be aggressive when baited and readily enters into a feeding frenzy. Can be dangerous, and has been associated with numerous human attacks.
Classification
| Class: | Chondrichthyes | | Order: | Carcharhiniformes | | Family: | Carcharhinidae | | Genus: | Carcharhinus | | Species: | amblyrhynchos | | Common Name: | Grey Whaler Shark |
Relatives in same Genus
Silky Shark (C. falciformis)
Bull Shark (C. leucas)
Blacktip Reef Shark (C. melanopterus)
Dusky Shark (C. obscurus)
|
|
