Just Call Me Tippy

by Barbie Corbett-Newmin

Title

Just Call Me Tippy

Artist

Barbie Corbett-Newmin

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Photograph

Description

Yes, we were in the water with "jaws" and were safe. Young Tippy had already eaten something smaller! This may be a spinner shark, very similar to a blacktip, described in BioOne:
Taxonomy Carcharhinus limbatus Classification Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Elasmobranchii Order Carcharhiniformes Family Carcharhinidae Genus Carcharhinus limbatus Blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus, aka black fin sharks, black tips, black tip sharks, black-tip sharks, black-tipped sharks, blackfin sharks, blacktip whalers, common blacktip sharks, grey sharks, requiem sharks, sharks, small blacktip sharks and spot-fin ground sharks, are robust sharks with a moderately long, pointed snout. Their first dorsal fin is slightly posterior (back) from their pectoral fins and high on the midsection of their backs with a narrow, pointed tip. This species does not have an interdorsal ridge. They are dark gray or blue to brown on their dorsal (upper) sides with white ventral (under) sides and a white band across their flanks. Their pectoral fins, first and second dorsal fins, pelvic fins, and lower caudal (tail) lobe are black tipped, although the dark coloring tends to fade with age. Their anal fins do not have black tips, unlike the similar spinner sharks, which often develops black tips on their anal fins as they mature. The maximum reported length of blacktip sharks is 2.55 m; average adult sizes are around 1.50 m and weigh in about 18 kg. The maximum age of blacktips is thought to be at least 12 years.World Range: Blacktip sharks are found in tropical and subtropical coastal, shelf, and island waters in the Atlantic, where they migrate seasonally between Brazil and Nova Scotia; the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, throughout the Mediterranean, and along the central West coast of Africa. In the Pacific they range from Southern California to Peru, including the Sea of Cortez, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Tahiti, and other South Pacific Islands, to the northern coast of Australia. In the Indian Ocean they range from South Africa and Madagascar up to the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, throughout India's coasts, and east to the coast of China.

Blacktip sharks can be found in both inshore and offshore waters, but they tend to stay close to the coasts at depths of 30m or less. They are often seen near river mouths, bays, and mangroves, although they do not penetrate far into freshwater like bull sharks.
Blacktip sharks feed on small schooling fishes such as herring, sardines, menhaden, mullet, and anchovies, but also eats catfishes, groupers, jacks, snook, porgies, grunts, croakers, flatfishes, triggerfish, and porcupine fish. They are known to feed on other elasmobranch species such as dogfishes, sharpnose sharks, young dusky sharks, skates, and stingrays. Crustaceans and squids are also prey for blacktip sharks.

This original underwater nature photograph is featured in Fine Art America groups
The World We See 09/25/2014
WHAT question mark 09/26/2014
Out Of The Ordinary 09/26/2014
AAA Images 09/27/2014
Wall art for children 09/27/2014
ALL Fine Art America Artwork 09/28/2014
Premium FAA Artists 09/29/2014
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Pin Me - Daily10/11/2019
1000 Views on 1 image 12/24/2020
Exploration Photography...12/24/2020
Share this excitement with someone now and then continue diving through my fine art photos and themed galleries to find what you need for your decor or gifts. Thank you!

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September 25th, 2014

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