Grey reef shark

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.The grey reef shark has the typical "reef shark" shape,with a broad,round snout and large eyes.This species 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 1.9 m (6.2 ft) long.The grey reef shark has a streamlined,moderately stout body with a long,blunt snout and large,round eyes.The upper and lower jaws each have 13 or 14 teeth (usually 14 in the upper and 13 in the lower).The upper teeth are triangular with slanted cusps,while the bottom teeth have narrower,erect cusps.The tooth serrations are larger in the upper jaw than in the lower.The first dorsal fin is medium-sized,and there is no ridge running between it and the second dorsal fin.The pectoral fins are narrow and falcate (sickle-shaped).The coloration is grey above,sometimes with a bronze sheen,and white below.The entire rear margin of the caudal fin has a distinctive,broad,black band.There are dusky to black tips on the pectoral,pelvic,second dorsal,and anal fins.Individuals from the western Indian Ocean have a narrow,white margin at the tip of the first dorsal fin;this trait is usually absent from Pacific populations.Grey reef sharks that spend time in shallow water eventually darken in color,due to tanning.Most grey reef sharks are less than 1.9 m (6.2 ft) long.The maximum reported length is 2.6 m (8.5 ft) and the maximum reported weight is 33.7 kg (74 lb).