Whitetip Reef Shark
Whitetip Reef SharkWhitetip Reef SharkWhitetip Reef SharkWhitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

90–100% · Very likely
overall probability at Isla del Coco National Park
40 Verified records at Isla del Coco National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

90–100% of wildlife watchers report a Whitetip Reef Shark sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 40 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Isla del Coco National Park

Galápagos Shark

Galápagos Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Insufficient data
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

Insufficient data
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Insufficient data
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Galeocerdo cuvier

Insufficient data
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Sphyrna lewini

70–80% · Very likely

📅 Monthly Probability

90–100
Jan
90–100
Feb
90–100
Mar
90–100
Apr
90–100
May
90–100
Jun
90–100
Jul
90–100
Aug
90–100
Sep
90–100
Oct
90–100
Nov
90–100
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
90–100%
2 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
90–100%
3 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
60–70%
4 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
60–70%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Whitetip Reef Shark in Isla del Coco National Park?

About 92% of wildlife watchers report a Whitetip Reef Shark sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 40 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Whitetip Reef Shark in Isla del Coco National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Whitetip Reef Shark in Isla del Coco National Park in our monthly data.

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