Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Sharks of Fiji/Gio na Viti

Bull (Carcharhinus leucas) & Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Along with the white shark, these are big sharks you want to stay away from. They will attack, and have the size to do damage. Both are found in all tropical waters around the world.

Bull sharks are found in water less than 33 meters deep. They can be attracted to the shallower waters (like Vorovoro) by large prey (like the injured sperm whale recently in the area). Bull sharks can be up to 3.4 meters in length and are named from their stocky appearance and strong personality. Bulls tend to feed on fish in shallow waters. Bulls travel up freshwater rivers and into lakes to mate, though primarily live in the ocean. Also has live birth.

The Tiger shark winters around tropical islands and some leave in the summer, and they are found from the surface to 100 meters deep. The tiger gets its name from the vertical bars along the body. They grow to be over 4 meters in length. Tigers have a reputation for eating anything – tires, cans, other sharks, dolphins, fish, and squid. They hunt primarily at night. These sharks are dwindling in numbers, and are at near threatened status. Also has live birth.

Silvertip (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) Shark
Not to be confused with the white-tip, the silver tip also has white margins on its fins, including the pectoral (side fins) whereas the white-tip doesn’t have white on its pectorals. The grey reef may also be confused with the silvertip, but the grey has dark tips on its pectorals and tail, not white as in the silvertip. This shark is found on tropical reefs to a maximum depth of 800 meters. This shark grows to a max size of 3 meters and feeds on fishes, small sharks and rays, and sometimes squid. It can be dangerous based on its large size, but isn’t known for many attacks on humans.

White tip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)
The white tip lives in clear water around shallow coral reefs. It lives in all tropical waters to depths of 330 meters, but is typical of shallow water. These are the sharks most often spotted around Vorovoro. In the day they usually hide out in caves, and do most of their hunting at night. Main characteristic is white tips on the dorsal fin and upper tail fin, but not on any other fins. They are a smaller shark only reaching just over 2 meters in length. They feed on fishes, octopi, lobsters, and crabs in crevices on the reef.

Sicklefin Lemon Shark (Negaprion acutidens)
Found on tropical reefs from 0-90 meters in depth in the Pacific and Indian oceans only. Grow to be 3.8 meters in total length. Bears live young. Fished commercially and therefore listed as vulnerable. Unlikely to attack unless provoked. Two dorsal fins are of equal size, unique to identifying this shark – most sharks have a smaller second dorsal fin.

Tawny Nurse Sharks (Nebrius ferrugineus)
A tropical reef shark found in waters from 0-70 meters in depth only in the Indo-Pacific and Indian oceans. Feeds on bottom invertebrates, sea urchins, and fishes. This shark is commercially fished and therefore listed as vulnerable. Unlikely to attack unless provoked. Easily distinguished from other sharks by characteristic nurse shark body form, very long upper lobe of caudal (tail) fin, distinctly angled head.

Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
This shark is easily distinguished by the black tips on all its fins. This shark prefers shallow reefs and is found in tropical oceans. The blacktip is a smaller species with a max length of 2 meters and preys upon reef fishes, octopi, and crabs. This shark bears live young (most sharks have egg cases). May bite if threatened or confused, but not likely to attack unprovoked.

Gray Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
This shark is found on coral reefs in tropical waters from 0-280 meters. This shark grows to 2.6 meters in length. It could be confused with the blacktip, but its first dorsal fin has a white or grey tip and not black like the blacktip shark. This shark eats reef fishes, octopi, squid, shrimps and lobsters. This shark also has live birth. Only attacks when threatened. Is listed as near threatened due to overfishing.