Oceanic whitetip shark

(Carcharhinus longimanus)

Diet

Feeds on bony fish, stingrays, sea turtles, sea birds, squid and mammalian carrion, such as dead whales.

Habitat

Found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, usually in deep-water areas.

Fin-tastic facts

Oceanic whitetip sharks are the boldest, most inquisitive and opportunistic feeders of all sharks. But when living in an ocean “desert” where meals are scarce, it is important to check out every potential source of food. Sharks in general are well known for using their exceptional senses to locate prey, but these sharks have taken it a step further. A favoured fishing spot in the Bahamas has become a source of frustration for sports fishermen, as oceanic whitetips repeatedly steal their fish. But how these sharks know exactly when a fisherman had caught a fish remained a mystery, until now. Incredibly, the sharks are listening to the sound of boat engines. When a fisherman has a fish on its line, the skipper slows the engine of the boat down, and this is the sound the sharks are waiting for. A sure sign of a free meal, the shark can steal the fish right off the line! But populations of oceanic whitetips are crashing worldwide. In the Gulf of Mexico, the population has had declines of 99% in just four decades. A species that was once one of the most common is now in serious danger of extinction.