Trivia question for Jun-13-2011

Carter really feels sorry for these guys, especially when we do speaking engagements and he is asked about why people cut the fins off sharks.  He decided to feature another shark in an effort to show the world that they are not as bad as everyone thinks.

These sharks are rarely aggressive towards humans, though they may investigate swimmers closely. However, spear fishers are at risk of being bitten by one attempting to steal their catch. This species is caught for food, though there are reports of ciguatera poisoning resulting from its consumption.  Associated almost exclusively with coral reef habitats, these sharks are most often encountered around coral heads and ledges with high vertical relief, and additionally over sandy flats, in lagoons, and near drop-offs to deeper water. They prefer very clear water and rarely swim far from the bottom.

So here are Carter’s questions:  Tell us what is so different about this shark compared to most sharks and also tell us what the largest threat is to their environment.  Also, tell us what kind of shark this is?

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations to Wilma from Canada for getting our trivia correct.  The shark we featured is the Whitetip Reef Shark.  The whitetip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, and the only member of its genus. A small shark usually not exceeding 5.2 ft in length, this species is easily recognizable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils, oval eyes with vertical pupils, and white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins.

They are different from most sharks because during the day, whitetip reef sharks spend much of their time resting inside caves. Unlike other requiem sharks, which rely on ram ventilation and must constantly swim to breathe, this shark can pump water over its gills and lie still on the bottom. At night, whitetip reef sharks emerge to hunt bony fishes, crustaceans, and octopus in groups, their elongate bodies allowing them to force their way into crevices and holes to extract hidden prey.

Associated almost exclusively with coral reef habitats, whitetip reef sharks are most often encountered around coral heads and ledges with high vertical relief, and additionally over sandy flats, in lagoons, and near drop-offs to deeper water. Their biggest environmental threat is the affects of Ocean Acidification. Increased carbon levels in our atmosphere cause carbon particles to fall in our oceans which essentially throws the pH balance off, which makes our oceans more acidic. The increased acid levels is adversely affecting coral reefs, essentially killing off entire areas of coral which is where these guys live and thrive.  Here is more on these cool sharks:  Whitetip Reef Shark

Thanks for playing along 😉