Which shark species is also known as the gray reef whaler?

The shark also known as the gray reef whaler is the grey reef shark.

Its scientific name is Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, a requiem shark found across tropical and subtropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. The spelling varies by region: “grey” is common internationally, while “gray” is also accepted in English. “Whaler” is a traditional term used for members of the requiem-shark family, Carcharhinidae, not a reference to whale hunting.

Grey reef sharks usually live near coral-reef drop-offs and are typically less than 1.9 metres long. Their most useful identifying feature is the broad black margin along the rear edge of the tail. They also commonly have dusky or dark fin tips, though coloration varies between populations.

This species is sometimes mistaken for the blacktip reef shark, which has a much more obvious black tip on its first dorsal fin and other fins. Grey reef sharks are social during the day and often hunt more actively at night. They can perform a distinctive threat display by hunching the body, lowering the pectoral fins, and swimming with exaggerated side-to-side movements.