Blackfin reef shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Family: Gray sharks

Size: Up to 2 m

Distribution: Tropical Indo-Pacific region

Food: Fish, crustaceans

A medium-sized shark that has noticeable black-tipped fins. The blackfin reef shark is considered the most common reef shark. It has an extremely small home range and often stays there for years. The blackfin reef shark has no gill muscles. It has to swim in order to breathe.