Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Small eyes indicate that the oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus is a surface-living, open-ocean species. It can be recognised instantly by its large, rounded, spade-like anterior dorsal fin and long pectoral fins that are mottled white at the tip.

Unlike most other shark species, the oceanic whitetip shark lives permanently in the open ocean in waters off continental shelves where the water temperature is above 21°C (70°F). It is one of the sharks most likely to arrive at the scene of mid-ocean air or sea disasters, and is therefore potentially dangerous to people. Like many sharks it is an opportunist, and being an open-ocean species it must take advantage of any and every opportunity to feed. It will, for example, follow pods of pregnant sperm whales, waiting for the time of birth and the inevitable bounty of nutritious afterbirths. It can also be expected to appear at whale carcasses floating at the sea's surface.