This tough shark is common in the Caribbean and is frequently confused with the other requiem sharks due to its average appearance. They are typically growing to be 6.5 to 10 feet in length. They’ve been discovered sleeping in caves along the seafloor, a mysterious behavior. It is also known as Carcharhinus perezi (C. perezi).

See the fact file below for more information on Caribbean Reef Sharks, or you can download our 30-page Caribbean Reef Sharks worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DISTINCTION

• There was an issue about eating these sharks due to the buildup of toxicants in their skin, but they are now valued for tourism rather than meals, which tends to bring safety concerns.
• The common name for this shark, Caribbean reef shark, seems entirely appropriate given that it primarily occupies coastal areas in the Caribbean and along the coast of South America. Cabeza dura (Spanish), Caribische rifhaai (Dutch), reef shark, requin de récif (French), shark, tiburón (Spanish), and tiburón coralino are some other common names (Spanish).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

• A Caribbean reef shark can be found in tropical water worldwide but is most common in the Caribbean Sea. Florida, Bermuda, the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil are all within this shark’s range.
• It is considered one of the most common sharks in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Even though Caribbean reef sharks are spotted close to reefs in southern Florida, long-line surveys off Florida’s east coast show that Caribbean reef sharks are exceedingly rare north of the Florida Keys.

HABITAT

• The Caribbean Reef Shark manages to hunt at the bottom of the ocean, and it has a heightened sensory prostate that enables it to hear extreme low-frequency sounds, trying to make chasing panicking fish easier. These sharks have already been observed in Brazil hiding in tiny caves to search for prey and rest.
• Although C. perezi prefers shallow waters, it has been observed diving to dark recesses of at least ninety feet (30 m).
• Caribbean reef sharks have been frequently found close to the outer rim of coastal areas and may also lie utterly immobile on the ocean floor. The above occurrence was also noticed in caves off the coasts of Mexico and Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

BIOLOGY

• From the back of the initial dorsal side to the front of the second dorsal fin, this same Caribbean reef shark does have an inner dorsal ridge. The free rear tip of the second dorsal fin was concise. Moreover, it has low occipital nasal flaps that are poorly developed and fairly huge circular eyes. For instance, Caribbean reef shark has moderately long gill slits, with the third slit located above the beginnings of the pectoral fin. In comparison to other sharks:
• Dusky shark (C. obscurus) has widely triangular occipital upper teeth and a substantially longer free back wheel tip of the second dorsal fin.
• The sandbar shark (C. plumbeus) has a snout smaller than the width of its mouth, as well as a significant first dorsal fin that originates over the pivot of the dorsal fin.  
• Blacktip shark (C. limbatus): The blacktip shark does have a pale white perineal fin, unlike the dusky-colored anal fin of the Caribbean reef shark.
• Silky sharks (C. falciformis) The silky shark gets its name from its soft conceal in the eastern Pacific as well as its proclivity to devastate tuna seine fishing lines.
• Bignose shark (C. Altimus): This shark has a longer snout and wider triangular teeth.
• Galapagos shark (C. galapagensis): Compared to Caribbean reef sharks, Galapagos sharks possess a more prominent first dorsal fin, a long free rear tip of the second dorsal fin, and more symmetrical upper teeth.
• Coloration:  Caribbean reef sharks are dark gray or gray-brown on top and white and whitish-yellow on the bottom. The undersides of the grouped fins, anal, and ventral caudal lobes are dusky in color, with no silvery gray or white undersides.
• Dentition: The Caribbean reef shark’s upper teeth have limited incisors with serrations and broad bases. A front two to four gums on every edge of the jaw are erect, while the rest are oblique. Lower teeth have triangular cusps that are narrow, erect, and have notched outer edges and broad bases.
• Denticles: The Caribbean reef shark dermal denticles are densely packed with marginal teeth and grooves. They overlap frequently and closely. The denticles are wider than they are long, with five (or sometimes seven in more giant sharks) short, marginal teeth and an equivalent number of small ridges.
• Size, Age, and Development: C. Perezi’s most extended recorded length is 116 inches tall (295 cm). Males reach maturity at 60 to 66 inches (152-168 cm) and females at 79 to 116 inches (200-295 cm). The height at birth is less than 29 inches (74 cm).
• Food Preferences: The Caribbean reef shark, like many sharks, primarily feeds on bony fish. To locate its prey, the shark employs six keen senses: olfactory, visual, tactile, audio, gustatory, and electric reception. The Caribbean reef shark has evolved to detect small noises (indicative of a struggling fish nearby).

REPRODUCTION

• This shark is a viviparous mammal, which means its embryos are fed through a placental connection. 
• Although the reproduction of this shark has never been studied in the northern latitudes, birth occurs even during the Amazon’s warmer months of November to December.
• A pregnant female with biting scars and lacerations on her sides was captured off the coast of north-northeast Brazil, carrying four near-term embryos. One of them was a 27.5 in. (700 mm) male, and three females assessed 27.0 in. (685 mm), 27.4 in. (697 mm), as well as 27.7 in. The length is 704 mm.
• Because males are aggressive during mating, pregnant females frequently have biting scar tissue from males on the edges of their bodies. Gestation is estimated to take about a year.

PARASITES AND PREDATORS

• Parasites: A dark leech is frequently attached to the Caribbean reef shark’s dorsal fin. Few parasites have indeed been publicly named as being associated with C. perezi.
• Predators: Tiny or juvenile Caribbean reef sharks are likely to fall prey to more giant sharks like the tiger shark and bull shark.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

• Commercial fishing for Caribbean reef sharks is prohibited in US waters; however, harvesting such sharks may be permitted in other countries. 
• Over the last few decades, a growing (and even more contentious) business side of a Caribbean reef shark has arisen.
• Numerous scuba diving activities include shark-feeding swims as part of their priorities to increase clients, with some important sites being the primary nature reserves of Caribbean reef sharks.

THREAT TO HUMANS

• Caribbean reef sharks rarely attack humans. A shark threat to a human is, in general, equivalent to an invasion of natural prey. An individual is more vulnerable to attack if such a shark is trapped and believes there is no way out. 
• Although new rules prohibit such feedings off the coastline of Florida, there are no such restrictions in Bahamian or some other Caribbean waters.
• In such cases, the shark may continue to attack the victim, causing cuts and bruises. Even though these characteristics were not specifically associated with Caribbean reef sharks, based upon observations of pale reef sharks (C. amblyrhynchos), C. perezi might exhibit similar behavior.
• Feasible warning signs that a Caribbean reef shark is about to attack (display threat): (1) The shark’s head swings far out of its normal route, and it may turn upward, resulting in a twirling or curving structure in the shark’s path. (2)The number of sharp, fast movements or turns increases. (3) The back curves like a cat’s. (4) One of the pectoral fins has been lowered, with the trailing edges pointing back.
• Another threat that Caribbean reef shark poses to humans is the collection of toxins in the shark’s flesh. Because sharks are the top marine hunters, people may have harmful mercury levels and other heavy metals due to bioaccumulation in shark species off the Florida coast that exceeded FDA guidelines.

CONSERVATION

• On the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Redlist, the Caribbean reef shark has been officially listed as “Near Threatened.” These sharks, however, are presently prohibited from being caught by fishermen in US waters.

Caribbean Reef Sharks Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Caribbean Reef Sharks across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Caribbean Reef Sharks, which are frequently confused with other requiem sharks due to their average appearance.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Caribbean Reef Sharks Facts 
2. My Shark’s Preferences
3. #LetterxWord
4. SHARKS FEUD
5. What Type is it?
6. Read Out Loud
7. THE C.R.S
8. A Persuasive Technique
9. Get to Know Me
10. Shark on Board!
11. Oh, It’s Right!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Caribbean reef sharks live?

Recent research has shown that Caribbean reef sharks can live for more than 14 years.

Do Caribbean reef sharks attack humans?

Caribbean reef sharks do not often target humans. They only target humans if they feel trapped and cannot escape. This is similar to how a wild animal might attack its prey if it feels threatened.

Do reef sharks lay eggs?

No, blacktip reef sharks have their young develop inside the body—this way of reproducing leads to more resilient offspring and ensures a healthier species for generations.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/animals/caribbean-reef-sharks/">Caribbean Reef Sharks Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, November 10, 2022

Link will appear as Caribbean Reef Sharks Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 10, 2022