What do caribbean reef sharks eat

When you look up close, they have an extra rear tip on the second dorsal fin. The first dorsal fin is slightly angled or curved and the gills slits are also longer than most other varieties of sharks.

While it is considered dangerous to humans, this shark does not have a history of attacks on humans. It has larger eyes and the snout is rounded and short in comparison to other sharks. This shark breed is actively fished as a source of meat and liver oil. In addition, they also attract attention from eco tourists in the Bahamas. The Bahamas are known to host questionable shark feeding programs to attract visitors and the Caribbean Reef shark is one of the major attractions.

While the catches are unintended, there has still been a drastic impact on the population and the population continues to dwindle. These sharks prefer the shoreline from Florida to Brazil. This is where it gets the common name from. The tropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean is home to this variety of sharks. Carcharhinus perezi populates the outer edges and drop-offs of the shallow coral and rocky reefs throughout the Caribbean and the northern Gulf of Mexico.

It will usually stay at depths of around 30m. As the name would suggest, this is the most abundant shark in the Caribbean. Despite the fact that the Caribbean reef shark is so abundant, surprisingly little is known about them.

The Caribbean Reef Shark is another of the requiem sharks migratory, live-bearing, and warm water dwelling sharks in the family Carcharhinidae.

Like many other requiem sharks, it has a robust, streamlined body. Consequently, this makes it difficult to distinguish from other large members of its family. In fact, people commonly mistake it for similar sharks like the dusky shark, and silky shark. Their snouts are relatively short, broad, and rounded. Their eyes are large and round with nictitating membranes a type of protective third eyelid. Eugenie Clark , among other researchers, studied this shark in detail.

They noticed its habit of resting motionless on the sea bottom or underwater caves. This is actually very unusual behavior for an active-swimming shark. However, Dr. Clark proposed that the strong water current in these caves may help the shark dislodge parasites clinging to its body.

The Caribbean Reef shark is of economic value to commercial fisheries and they target it for its meat, leather, liver oil, and for use in fishmeal. However, of late its becoming more valuable alive than dead.

This is due to its important place in ecotourism. Despite that, this shark is implicated in a number of attacks on humans with these incidents happening mainly in spring and summer. Though many attribute that to the habit locals and ecotourism businesses in the area have of feeding it bait to approach groups of divers.

No doubt, this remains a controversial subject to date. Only about 0. Though the heaviest recorded weight of a Caribbean Reef Shark was 70 kg lbs , most reef sharks typically range from Therefore, thousands of divers have safely mingled with them in popular tropical destinations for generations. Researchers at the University of Florida have recorded only four documented cases of unprovoked attacks on humans, which were not fatal. In fact, in many parts of the Caribbean, this species is the primary target for these activities.

This female had scars and wounds on her side. Because the shark carried near-term embryos, it is postulated that this area may be a pupping ground. Parasites A dark leech is often attached to the dorsal fin of the Caribbean reef shark. Few parasites have been formally documented in association with C. Predators It is likely that small or juvenile Caribbean reef sharks fall prey to larger sharks such as the tiger shark and bull shark.

The Caribbean reef shark was originally described from off the coast of Cuba as Platypodon perezi by Poey in Bigelow and Schroeder later described the same species as Carcharhinus springeri in and the reef shark appears in much literature under this scientific name. The currently accepted valid name is C. Discover Fishes Carcharhinus perezi. Importance to Humans The Caribbean reef shark infrequently attacks humans.

Danger to Humans The Caribbean reef shark infrequently attacks humans. Geographical Distribution World distribution map for the Caribbean reef shark The Caribbean reef shark is found throughout tropical waters, particularly in the Caribbean Sea.

Habitat C. Distinguishing Characteristics Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi. Snout is short and bluntly rounded 2.

Pectoral fins are large and narrow 3. First dorsal fin is small with short rear tip Biology Distinctive Features The Caribbean reef shark has an interdorsal ridge from the rear of the first dorsal fin to the front of the second dorsal fin. Comparison to similar sharks: Dusky shark C. Sandbar shark C.