©Lady Elliot Island: Australian Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni) or Common Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Distinguishing features
The long and narrow pectoral fins are falcate (sickle-shaped) with pointed tips. The large first dorsal fin is also falcate and originates over or slightly behind the rear of the pectoral fin bases. The second dorsal fin is moderately tall and positioned about opposite the anal fin. There is no midline ridge between the dorsal fins. A crescent-shaped notch is present on the caudal peduncle just before the upper caudal fin origin. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, with a strong lower lobe and a longer upper lobe with a ventral notch near the tip. The roughly diamond-shaped dermal denticles are placed closely together and slightly overlapping; each bears five to seven (three in juveniles) horizontal ridges leading to marginal teeth. The Australian blacktip shark is bronze above (gray after death) and whitish below, with a pale stripe on the flanks. Some individuals have black tips on all fins, while others have unmarked pelvic and anal fins.
It has a moderately robust, spindle-shaped body and a long, pointed snout. The anterior rims of the nostrils are slightly enlarged into low triangular flaps. The large, circular eyes are equipped with nictitating membranes. The furrows at the corners of the mouth are barely evident. There are 32–35 upper and 29–31 lower tooth rows; each upper tooth has a slender, upright cusp and fine serrations that become coarser near the base, while the lower teeth are narrower and more finely serrated. The five pairs of gill slits are long. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 200 cm (Total length)
Depth range
- From 0 m to 150 m
Synonyms
Similar taxa
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Animalia:
Common Blacktip Shark (species: Carcharhinus limbatus)
Appearance-wise this species is virtually identical to Carcharhinus limbatus, from which it can be reliably distinguished only by its lower vertebra number and by genetic markers. - Animalia: Blacktip Reef Shark (species: Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Australian Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni)
Distribution and habitat preferences
Inhabiting the continental shelf, it is found from Thevenard Island in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales.
Within its range, it co-occurs with the Common Blacktip Shark; the ratio between C. limbatus and C. tilstoni was once thought to be 1:300, but recent genetic studies have found it to be closer to 50:50.
Larger sharks tend to occur in deeper water. Though it occupies the entire water column, it is most common close to the surface or in midwater. (Wikipedia)
Diet
It preys mainly on teleost fishes, including ponyfishes, grunters, tunas, and herring. Cephalopods are a secondary food source, which are particularly important around April. This species also occasionally consumes smaller sharks. (Wikipedia)
