Carcharhinus melanopterus

The Blacktip Reef Shark is typically a social shark, often found in coral reefs and shallow waters. They are diurnal and are primarily active during the day while searching for food, which consists mainly of small fish, shrimp, and cephalopods.

Blacktip Reef Sharks are viviparous, with females giving birth to live young that hatch from eggs inside their bodies. Each litter can consist of 2 to 5 pups, and the reproductive cycle occurs approximately every 2 years.

Key features of the Blacktip Reef Shark include the black tips on their dorsal fins, which is the source of their common name. They have a gray or gray-brown body with a distinct black stripe along their sides. These sharks are of medium size, typically ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 meters in length.

Blacktip Reef Sharks have been historically found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Red Sea. They have long been common inhabitants of coral reefs and coastal waters.

The Blacktip Reef Shark is currently listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While it is not considered critically endangered, its population is facing several threats, primarily due to human activities. These threats include overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution. The demand for shark fins and meat in certain markets has also contributed to the decline of Blacktip Reef Shark populations.