Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Carcharhinus longimanus (Poey, 1861)

Scientific name: Carcharhinus longimanus
Alternative name/s:
Oceanic White-tipped Whaler, White-tipped Whaler, Whitetip Whaler
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    07/04/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Oceanic Whitetip Shark Click to enlarge image
Tom Trnski with an Oceanic Whitetip Shark. The shark was preserved and is now in the ichthyology collection at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The fish was washed up on the west coast of Auckland in May 2013. It contained 11 pups (baby sharks). The species is protected in New Zealand waters. The specimen is owned by the iwi people because it was a “gift from the sea”. The iwi people kindly donated the fish to the museum. Image: Steve J Hudson
© Auckland War Memorial Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Carcharhinus
    Species
    longimanus
    Family
    Carcharhinidae
    Order
    Carcharhiniformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to a confirmed length of 3 m.

Introduction

The Oceanic Whitetip Shark is one of the four most dangerous shark species. It occurs in tropical and temperate waters from inshore areas to oceanic waters.

Distribution

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.