OzAnimals.com
Australian Wildlife

  Grey Whaler Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)





Grey Whaler Shark | Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos photo
Grey Reef Shark

Image by Shinji - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Grey Whaler Shark | Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos photo
pair of Grey Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and divers in blue water. North Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Image by Richard Ling - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







GREY WHALER SHARK FACTS

Description
The Grey Whaler Shark is bronze to grey above with white underside. It has a black tail fin margin. The undersides of the pectoral and pelvic fins have black tips and black trailing margins. There is an indistinct stripe along the side from above the pelvic fins. The first dorsal fin may have a white tip and white trailing edge. It is inquisitive nature and often investigates disturbances and diver activity. It is potentially dangerous. When threatening it raises its head, arches its back, lowers the pectoral fins, and swims with exaggerated movements. Forms schools in daytime.

Other Names
Grey Reef Shark

Size
length: males to 2.5m; females to 1.7m. Weight to 34kg.

Habitat
The Grey Whaler Shark is found on coral reefs, reef drop-offs to open ocean, continental shelves, island shelves, shallow lagoons. It lives from the surface to depth of about 280m. .

Food
reef fish, squid, octopus, crabs, lobsters, shrimps

Breeding
Viviparous. Gives birth to 1-6 pups.

Range
The Grey Whaler Shark is found in tropical waters throughout the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is found from the central Western Australian coast, round the tropical north and down the east coast to southern Queensland.

Notes
Tends to be aggressive when baited and readily enters into a feeding frenzy. Can be dangerous, and has been associated with numerous human attacks.



Classification
Class:Chondrichthyes
Order:Carcharhiniformes
Family:Carcharhinidae
Genus:Carcharhinus
Species:amblyrhynchos
Common Name:Grey Whaler Shark

Relatives in same Genus
  Silky Shark (C. falciformis)
  Bull Shark (C. leucas)
  Blacktip Reef Shark (C. melanopterus)
  Dusky Shark (C. obscurus)