Jardines de la Reina, Cuba - Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezii)
March 2010
The Caribbean Reef Shark belongs like the similar Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) to the family of Requiem Sharks (Carcharhinidae). The first dorsal fin looks more like a triangle (typical “shark fin”) compared to the rounded first dorsal fin of the Silky Shark. The body is quite heavy and the snout broad and rounded. With a length of up to three meters the Reef Shark is quite large. Most of the Reef Sharks seen during the dives are between 2 and 3 m, smaller species are rarely observed. Typically 10 – 20 sharks show up during the feeding which takes place in depths between 20 and 35 m. The typical habitats of these sharks are the outer sides of coral reefs between the surface and 40 m.
The pictures were taken during dives at Coral Negro II (33 m), Cueva del Pulpo (18 m), Coral Negro I (30 m), and Cabeza de la Cubera (20). During these dives Reef Sharks were around from the beginning of the dive until returning to the boat. Off course, most sharks were observed during the feeding actions at the bottom of the dive sites.
