The Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus (Müller
and Henle, 1839), (aka Blackfin shark, Black-tip shark,
Black tip shark, Blacktip whaler, Black-tipped shark,
and Grey shark) are robust sharks with a moderately
long, pointed snout. The first dorsal fin is slightly
posterior to the pectoral fins near the midsection of
the body, and is high with a narrow, pointed tip. The
large pectoral fins are pointed with black tips. This
species does not have an interdorsal ridge. They are
dark gray or blue to brown on the dorsal side with a
white ventral side and a white band across the flank.
The pectoral fins, first and second dorsal fins, pelvic
fins, and lower caudal lobe are black tipped, although
the dark coloring tends to fade with age. The anal fins
of the Blacktip do not have black tips, unlike the similar
Spinner shark, which often develops black tips on the
anal fin as they mature.
The maximum reported length of the Blacktip shark
is 2.55 m whereas average adult size is around 1.50
m and weights of about 18 kg. The maximum age of blacktips
is thought to be at least 12 years.
The Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is found
in tropical and subtropical coastal, shelf, and island
waters in the Atlantic, where they migrate seasonally
between Brazil and Nova Scotia; the Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean Sea, throughout the Mediterranean, and along
the central West coast of Africa. In the Pacific they
range from Southern California to Peru, including the
Sea of Cortez, the Galápagos Islands, Hawaii,
Tahiti, and other South Pacific Islands, to the North
coast of Australia. In the Indian Ocean they range from
South Africa and Madagascar up to the Red Sea, Persian
Gulf, throughout India's coast, and east to the coast
of China.
The Blacktip shark can be found in both inshore
and offshore waters, but they tend to stay close to
the coasts at depths of 30 m or less. They are often
seen near river mouths, bays, and mangroves, although
they do not penetrate far into freshwater.
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The Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, feeds on
small schooling fishes such as herring, sardines, menhaden,
mullet, and anchovies, but also eats catfishes, groupers,
jacks, snook, porgies, grunts, croakers, flatfishes,
triggerfish, and porcupine fish. They are known to feed
on other elasmobranch species such as Dogfish, Sharpnose
sharks, young Dusky sharks, Skates, and Stingrays. Crustaceans
and squids are also prey for Blacktip sharks.
Like the Spinner shark, Blacktips have been observed
leaping and spinning out of the water, which is likely
a feeding behavior. Blacktips attack schools from
below at high speed while snapping their jaws to capture
prey.
The Tiger shark preys on young Blacktip sharks.
The Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is viviparous,
meaning they give birth to live, free-swimming young
and nourish them during gestation with a placental sac.
Males reach sexual maturity between 1.35-1.80 m, or
4-5 years, females at 1.20-1.90 m, or 6-7 years. Gestation
lasts 10-12 months followed by birthing in shallow waters
during warmer months. Litter sizes range from 1-10 pups,
which remain in the shallow nursing grounds for the
first few years to avoid predation. Size at birth is
38-72 cm.
Comments - The Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus
limbatus, is fished commercially by longlines off
the southeast coast of the US, and caught as bycatch
in fixed bottom nets and in shrimp trawls. The flesh
is sold for human consumption and sued for fish meal,
and the fins are sold for shark fin soup in Asian
markets. The skin is also used for leather.
Blacktip sharks in the Caribbean are a popular tourist
attraction during shark feeding dives along with other
species such as Caribbean reef sharks.
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF)
has reported 28 unprovoked attacks by Blacktip sharks
to humans. Attacks were reported in the United States
(Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia,
and Alabama), the Caribbean (Bahamas and British Virgin
Islands), and South Africa. None of the bites resulted
in death. Blacktip sharks are responsible for roughly
16% of the attacks that occur in Florida waters, often
striking surfers.
