Oceanic Whitetip Shark Facts

Oceanic Whitetip Sharks, also called The Sandbar Shark, Brown Shark, Nigano Shark, Oceanic White-Tipped Whaler, and the Silvertip Shark, are a kind of Requiem Shark. They are frequently confused with the other tips that belong to Requiem Sharks, most notably the Whitetip Reef Shark. Explore interesting Oceanic Whitetip Shark Facts here!

Oceanic Whitetip Shark Facts

Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are known for their distinctive white tips visible on the fins. They are medium-sized sharks, averaging around 9.8 feet (3 meters) in length, and weigh as high as 370 lbs (170 kilograms). Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are found throughout the world and exhibit a variety of fascinating behavior. Here are ten facts you should be aware of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks:

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1. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Love Deep Waters
2. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks generally prefer oceans with deeper waters. They are known to hunt in the depths of the water column that is around 490 feet (150 meters) beneath the water surface. They have been seen at levels as low as 120 feet (37 meters) and along coasts. But, they generally only go after these waters when they are close to the continental shelf, where they have access to the deeper waters they like.
3. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Love Warmer Waters
4. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks tend to be found in the vicinity of the Equator in subtropical and tropical waters worldwide. They prefer warm waters with temperatures between 68 and 82deg F (20-28deg Celsius). Ocean Whitetip Sharks will move to warmer waters when water temperatures drop due to seasonal fluctuations. They’ve never been seen in water temperatures lower than 64 degrees F (10deg C).
5. Ocean Whitetip Sharks Are Not Daytime
6. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are not diurnal, which means they are active throughout the day and night. They are dependent on the ram breathing method, which means they need to swim continuously to get oxygen to their gills. This means they do not go to sleep. They’re known as”the “Dark Knight of the Sea” because they prefer to hunt at nighttime. Although they’re mostly nighttime predators, they can also consume food during the day when an easy food source is available.
7. They are slow swimmers.
8. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are a species of shark that belongs to the Requiem Shark family. Requiem Sharks are known for being slow swimmers, of which Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are not the exception. They are, however, capable of short bursts of incredible speed. They typically cruise on the uppermost part of their water column to catch prey. Researchers believe that the color on Ocean Whitetip Sharks can trick fish into thinking that they are in a nighttime school, and that is why the predators come close enough to swiftly leap into the water and catch them.
9. Sometimes, they act like Dogs.
10. Another term used to describe Oceanic Whitetip sharks as “sea dogs” since they frequently exhibit behavior that resembles dogs. If the Oceanic Whitetip Shark finds something fascinating, it will come at it with caution and then retreat when it is afraid. Like dogs, they wait for the right moment to return to the attack and stealthily at the target. They also follow ships in the same way that dogs be a dog.
11. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Engage In “Feeding Frenzies”
12. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are often observed engaging in the “feeding panic.” “Feeding frenzy” is inaccurate because it implies that Oceanic Whitetips Sharks are just fighting rapidly because of bloodlust. In reality, they’re engaged in complex social behavior and hunting in groups. Frenzies of food are efficient and collaborative ways that Oceanic Whitetip Sharks will hunt within a pack. They are actually taking turns striking each other and sharing food, not simply eating and killing violently.
13. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Are Accused of a plethora of shipwreck deaths.
14. There have been many instances when, after a shipwreck has been triggered, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks will take advantage of the opportunity to feed on victims of the shipwreck. Two well-known examples of this behavior. The first occurred in 1945, when an army vessel, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks attacked and could have killed up to 800 soldiers. A second attack occurred that same year, in which steamships sank off South Africa’s coast. South Africa and Oceanic Whitetip Sharks were responsible for the deaths of 1,000 passengers.
15. Jacques Cousteau Is Very Wary Of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
16. Jacques Cousteau, arguably the most well-known oceanographer globally, was once asked about the species of shark he considered to be most deadly. He responded that”the Oceanic Whitetip Shark is “the most deadly of sharks,” noting the frequent attacks on survivors of shipwrecks and their swift as well as agile hunter-in-the-group. Although Great White Sharks are known as the most fierce sharks to be found on the sea, Cousteau argues that Oceanic Whitetip Sharks have killed more people and more effectively and are a more deadly species of shark.
17. They are highly coveted for their Meat.
18. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks, like all Requiem Sharks, are highly valued by fishermen for their tasty Meat. Hyde from them is also used for the production of leather. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are also well-known because of their fins used in shark fin soup because the dorsal and pectoral fins are extremely big. Being a commodity with such a high value means that they are sourced throughout the world and are facing an increasing threat of population declines due to commercial fishing.
19. They are Highly Threatened
20. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are classified as a “vulnerable” kind of shark, and in certain regions of the world, they are in danger of extinction. Between 1969 to 2003, there’s been a 70% decrease in the number of their populations, and this rate continues to increase each year. Due to environmental stressors as well as the cruel practice of shark finning and a slow rate of reproduction, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are at risk of becoming extinct.
21. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are a unique species of shark. Although they look like other Requiem Sharks, they have distinctive behavior. They behave like dogs and hunt in groups, and aren’t diurnal. Although they are a danger to the species, specifically for survivors of shipwrecks, The deep-water habitat prevents them from ever being an imminent threat to the human race. In reality, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are at risk from humans and are being slaughtered at an alarming rate for their flesh and skin. Therefore, it is imperative to know more about these magnificent predators to save them from the threat of extinction.

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