Idea #360 – Diving with gray reef sharks in the Maldives
The grey Shark of reef (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), also collectively named dagsit Shark or black-tailed Shark, is a shark met in little deep waters, near the falling of coral reefs. It establishes one of the families of the most common sharks of reef of Indo-Pacifique, present of the Easter Island in the East to South Africa on the West. This shark wears the usual characteristics of the sharks of reef, with its snout the wide rounding and the big eyes. It distinguishes itself from others by its first dorsal fin ending by a white extremity, other fins ending by a black extremity, by a wide black back border of its tail fin, and by an absence of crest between its dorsal fins. Most of the individuals measure less than 1,9 m of length. The grey Shark of reef is an agile and fast predator, who feeds mainly on osseous fishes and on cephalopods. Its aggressive behavior places it as ruler of most of the other species of sharks of reef, in spite of its relatively modest size. Sociable animal, these sharks form in the day of the groups often including from 5 to 20 individuals near the borders of coral reefs, parting at nightfall, when they hunt. The grown-up females also form groups in little deep waters, where the high temperature of the water can accelerate their growth or that of their young people in utero. They are a frequent taking of the fishermen, what can locally cause a decline of staff because of its little supported rhythm of reproduction and its limited dispersal; the international Union for the preservation of the nature (UICN) classified the species “quasi-threatened”.
The grey Sharks of reef were the first species of shark observed taking an attitude of characteristic intimidation, pectoral fins downward and movement of the exaggerated body laterally. The grey Sharks of reef often take this attitude when they perceive) a threat, as beeing followed or forced by divers. They are regularly involved in attacks on the Man, and must be considered thus with precaution, in particular when they adopt their attitude of intimidation.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Archipelago Maldives