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      1. Priority Species

Reef sharks

Top predator in coastal waters

Grey reef shark populations in Australia have declined by as much as 97% in areas that are not effectively protected.

Reef sharks inhabit tropical waters and lagoons near coral reefs. They are found in Indo-Pacific waters and the Caribbean.

Like all sharks, reef sharks are efficient predators. They are at the apex of their food chains and are therefore an important indicator species for marine ecosystems as a whole.

Did you know?

  • The Caribbean reef shark is known to rest motionless on the sea bottom or inside caves.
  • When threatened gray reef sharks display a distinctive hunched posture, bending their body into an "S" shape. They are known to be territorial and will warn off other shark species.
  • The white tip reef shark is nocturnal and is often seen resting on the bottom of the sea during the day, sometimes in small groups.
  • Cruising coastlines in large schools, blacktip reef sharks often jump out of the water during a feeding frenzy on schools of fish.

Related links

Food chain

Reef sharks feed on:
  • Reef fish
  • Cephalopods
  • Crustaceans
Predators of reef sharks include:
  • Humans

Cruising the coral reefs

Diet
Reef sharks mainly feed on reef fish, squid, cephalopods, crab, lobster and shrimp. They have been observed herding fish against the reef face before attacking.

Reproduction
All reef sharks are viviparous - they give birth to live pups, with an average of 1-5 pups per litter. Gestation periods can be longer than 1 year, and the pups do not reach maturity until at least the age of 5.

Threats
Slow reproduction rates and a limited habitat makes reef sharks particularlty vulnerable to both commercial and artisanl fishing. They are often caught as bycatch and discarded, making a true assessment of population status difficult.

Priority species

Reef sharks are a WWF priority species. WWF treats priority species as one of the most ecologically, economically and/or culturally important species on our planet. And so we are working to ensure such species can live and thrive in their natural habitats.

What is WWF doing?

  • WWF works to preserve the coral habitats where reef sharks live. It is involved in the development of many marine protected areas, and works towards the introduction of fishing bans to protect vulnerable species such as reef sharks.
  • WWF recognises that more value can be derived from reef sharks through diving tourism than fishing. It seeks to support local communities to set up appropriate ecotourism infrastructure.

Species of reef shark

  • Gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
     Status: lower risk/near threatened
  • Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
    Status: lower risk/near threatened
  • Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
    Status: near threatened
  • Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
    Status: lower risk/near threatened
  • Blacktail reef shark (Carcharhinus wheeleri)
    Status: not listed

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