One of the 26 sharks on WAnimals

Cartilaginous fish · Carcharhiniformes · Carcharhinidae

Caribbean Reef Shark

Carcharhinus perezi

Endangered

It faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. See full glossary

The Caribbean reef shark is the commonest large shark on Caribbean reefs and the star of most shark dives in the region. It is notable for behaviour uncommon among sharks: it has been seen resting almost motionless on the floor of caves and crevices.

Weight

30 kg – 70 kg

Size

2 m – 3 m

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Sighting difficulty

Hard

Fun facts

  • It rests on the bottom: it has been seen motionless in caves and under overhangs, a stillness uncommon among large sharks, most of which must swim in order to breathe.
  • It is the economic basis of shark diving in the Caribbean: a single living animal generates far more tourist income over its lifetime than its value to fisheries, an argument that has driven the creation of shark sanctuaries in the Bahamas and other countries.
  • Its decline, which has taken it to the endangered category, is due above all to fishing for its fins and to the degradation of the reefs it depends on.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - cartilaginous skeleton (fish)
Habitat & environment
Coral reefs and outer drop-offs of the Caribbean and the tropical western Atlantic
Sexual maturity
7 years
Gestation / incubation
12 months of gestation
Litter / clutch size
5 live young

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Caribbean Reef Shark — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

How to help

The caribbean reef shark is classified as endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

It's documented in 17 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about caribbean reef shark.

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