- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold blacktip reef shark, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the blacktip reef shark
The blacktip reef shark is a requiem shark identified by the prominent black tips on its fins, especially the first dorsal fin. It is among the most abundant sharks on tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, preferring shallow inshore waters over reef ledges and sandy flats, and it sometimes enters brackish or fresh water. It usually reaches about 1.6 m, with females larger than males. An active predator, it eats small bony fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, and occasionally sea snakes and seabirds. Individuals have very small home ranges and may stay in the same area for years.
Blacktip Reef Shark facts
- It has colonized the eastern Mediterranean Sea by way of the Suez Canal.
- Individuals stay within the same local area for up to several years at a time.
- Females give birth to two to five young, and reported gestation periods range from 7 to 16 months.
- The species name melanopterus comes from Greek words meaning black and fin.
Where to see blacktip reef shark in the U.S.
3 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding blacktip reef shark by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
Indiana· 1
Ohio· 1
Texas· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
