Inshore coral lagoons and around the edges of the reefs/Indo-West Pacific and Central Pacific
Size: 4 to 6 ft. • Weight: 28 to 53 lbs.
Blacktip Reef Sharks are best known for – you guessed it – the distinctive black markings on the tips on their fins. Another fin-teresting characteristic of Blacktip Reef Sharks compared to other shark species is their camaraderie and the way they swim in schools, especially when feeding. During these feeding frenzies, they have even been known to jump fully out of the water. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… Blacktip Reef Shark?!
Despite how menacing “feeding frenzies” might sound, Blacktip Reef Sharks are rather docile and nonaggressive creatures. In fact, they’re quite curious! They love sinking their serrated teeth into a great mystery and will investigate anything out of the ordinary in their habitat.
Swim on over to The Tropics exhibit during your next visit to Vancouver Aquarium to catch these curious sharks in action!
Types
The Tropics gallery showcases coral reefs, mangrove forests, rivers and lakes near the equator. Some of this gallery’s highlights include colourful tropical fishes, stingrays, and blacktip reef sharks.
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