REQUIEM SHARKS
CARCHARHINIDAE
Caribbean Reef Shark
Carcharhinus perezii
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size Diet Behaviour Sex 
Pel, Dem 3.0m Pisc I F
 
 
Description:
Silver-grey with white underside. Inside tips of pectoral fins and tips of ventral fins, lower lobe of tail and
anal fin dusky. (N.B. Similar Blacktip Shark, C. limbatus, distinguised by pale/ white anal fin and Spinner Shark, C. brevipinna, has solid blck, not dusky, black tips on fins). First dorsal fin small and starts behind pectoral fin. Gill slits small and start above plane of pectoral fin. Heavy body - similar Dusky Shark, C. obscurus, has a relatively slender body and larger gill slits.

Ecology
Often near drop-offs on the outer edges of reefs. May rest on the bottom. Usually found in reefs, at less than 30m (100ft) deep. Feed on bony fishes, including bigeyes (Priacanthidae).
Can be considered a potentially dangerous species, implicated in an abortive attack on divers in the Caribbean.


Life Cycle:
Viviparous, where the shark pups develop inside of the mother. Size at birth below 73 cm. Reaches maturity at ~ 150-160cm.

Reproductive process begins when females reach 2-3m or males reach 1.5-1.7m. Reproduce with a biennial reproductive cycle, gestation occuring for approximately one year, producing three to six shark pups; indicative of low reproductive productivity. Pups are 60-75cm. Sharks are found with deep wound on their sides in mating season, indicating aggressive treatment by male sharks during reproduction. Females migrate to nursery waters before it is time for them to give birth.
Caribbean Reef  Shark
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Caribbean Reef  Shark
Caribbean Reef  Shark
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Blacktip  Shark
(not yet photographically confirmed in Antigua)
NOTE
COMPARISON BETWEEN REEF AND BLACKTIP SHARKS
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