A-Z Index

OCEANIC WHITETIP SHARK

Carcharhinus longimanus

To about 11.5 ft (3.5 m).

First dorsal fin broadly rounded
Pectoral fins long, broad, and paddle-shaped
First dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins usually with white mottling on tips; small juveniles may have black blotched or black tips on fins and black saddle marks on dorsal surface between fins
Caudal fin with no distinct lower lobe
Color brown to olive-gray above, gray-white to yellow below

ME to Argentina, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Uncommon in U.S. Atlantic EEZ.

Offshore in waters >600 ft (183 m); occasionally coastal near oceanic islands. Usually in water temperatures >72�F (22�C).

Broadly rounded, white-tipped first dorsal fin of oceanic whitetip shark distinguishes this species from other Atlantic Sharks

(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)