Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
- FamilyCarcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
- GenusTriaenodon
- SpeciesTriaenodon obesus (Whitetip Reef Shark)
The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. It is the only extant species of genus Triaenodon. A small shark that does not usually exceed 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length, this species is easily recognizable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils, oval eyes with vertical pupils, and white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins. One of the most common sharks found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, the whitetip reef shark occurs as far west as South Africa and as far east as Central America. It is typically found on or near the bottom in clear water, at a depth of 8–40 m (26–131 ft). During the day, whitetip reef sharks spend much of their time resting inside caves. Wikipedia →
60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Whitetip Reef Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 432 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Requiem shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Galápagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
spotted houndshark
Triakis maculata
White-margin Fin Hound Shark
Mustelus albipinnis
hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coiba National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 4 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Whitetip Reef Shark in Galápagos Islands?
About 68% of wildlife watchers report a Whitetip Reef Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 432 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Whitetip Reef Shark in Galápagos Islands?
June has the highest sighting rate for Whitetip Reef Shark in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.