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Caribbean Reef Shark & Pictures
Shark size: The largest recorded Caribbean reef shark measured just over 3m (9.3ft). The average size at birth is around 70cm (2.2ft). Habitat: The Caribbean reef shark is the most common shark around the coral reefs in the Caribbean. It is a tropical inshore, bottom-dwelling species of the continental shelves. Caribbean Reef sharks prefer to swim around shallow waters, although some sharks will venture out as far as 50m. Caribbean reef sharks are commonly found close to "drop-offs" on the outer edges of coral reefs and also may lie motionless on the bottom of the ocean floor or in small caves. Locations: The Caribbean reef shark is found in warm tropical waters around the Caribbean Sea. Other areas the shark inhibits are Florida, Bermuda, Mexico, Yucatan, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. It is one of the most abundant sharks around the Bahamas. Generally Caribbean reef sharks will not swim further north that the Florida Keys because the water temperature is too cold. See map below of Caribbean reef shark distribution.
Feeding: Like most sharks in the area, the Caribbean reef shark feeds mainly on medium to large fish. The Caribbean reef shark uses two main senses for hunting. First, it uses its tactile sense to feel tiny vibrations in the water. Second, it uses ultra sensitive hearing to detect very low frequency sounds. Like the sound of a struggling fish. The shark feeds mostly during the day, however they have been known to feed at dusk or at night. Behavior: Caribbean reef sharks are generally not aggressive towards humans or each other. You'll find them either resting on the sandy ocean floor or cruising around shallow reefs looking for food. Caribbean reef sharks will rarely venture out into deep water. Diving with Caribbean Reef sharks: Caribbean reef sharks are easy to find and dive with around the Caribbean and Gulf waters. They are one of the smaller species of shark, and rarely attack humans. The Caribbean reef shark will only attack a human in self defense or if it feels cornered. Sharks are easily found on shallow water so an open water scuba diving certification is all that's required. Tours are run more often in summer months, but you can find many tour operators running all year round. Places to see: Obviously the best place to see Caribbean reef sharks is in the Caribbean! Florida is also another popular destination for these sharks.
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