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Grey Whaler Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Bleeker, 1856
A Grey Whaler Shark at a depth of 30m, Raine Island, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, November 2001. View larger image.
A Grey Whaler Shark at a depth of 25m, South Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. View larger image.
A Grey Whaler Shark at a depth of 20m, North Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. View larger image.
Grey Whaler Sharks at a depth of 25m, South Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. View larger image.
The Grey Whaler Shark is bronze to grey above, pale below, and has a black caudal fin margin. An indistinct stripe runs anteriorly from above the pelvic fins. The first dorsal fin sometimes has a small white tip and a white posterior margin.
This species grows to 2.55m in length but individuals over 1.8m are uncommon. It is regarded as potentially dangerous.
The Grey Whaler Shark is a common species on coral reefs. It has an inquisitive nature, often investigating disturbances and approaching divers. It has a well-documented threat display that involves raising its head, arching its back, lowering its pectoral fins, and swimming with exaggerated movements.
This species is found in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is recorded from the central Western Australian coast, around the tropical north and south to southern Queensland. It lives from the surface down to a depth of about 280m.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
