Shark Data Lab logoShark Data Lab
ENFR
Oceanic Whitetip
CarcharhiniformesAttack Relevant

Oceanic Whitetip

Carcharhinus longimanus

Back to species

Max Length

3.9m

Litter Size

1 to 15 pups

Overview

Historically responsible for mass-casualty incidents at open-ocean shipwrecks and air crashes. Once extremely abundant; now critically endangered due to overfishing for the fin trade. Characterized by distinctive rounded, white-tipped fins.

Habitat

Oceanic, epipelagic, but occasionally coastal. This species is usually found far offshore in the open sea, but it is sometimes found near oceanic islands where the water is 120 ft [37 m] deep. The shark is regularly found in waters 64°F to 82°F [18°C to 28°C], but prefers sea temperatures above 68°F [20°C].

Distribution

Tropical & subtropical seas worldwide

Circumglobal in tropical and warm temperate seas. Once abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, the species has virtually disappeared due to overfishing.

Behavior

The shark cruises leisurely near the surface with its huge pectoral fins outspread. It can be extremely fast and aggressive when competing for food.

Human Safety

The Oceanic whitetip shark is often very bold and persistent when it is inspecting a potential food source.

Biology

Diet
Primarily bony fish such as tuna, marlin, jacks, barracuda and dolphinfish, but it also feeds on cephalopods, sea birds, turtles, marine mammals, carrion and garbage.
Reproduction
Viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta
Birth Size
65cm
Male Maturity
1.98m

Appearance

Oceanic Whitetip illustration
Dorsal
Gray bronze above, white below. White mottling on dorsal and pectoral fins.

Conservation

The shark has been implicated in a number of unprovoked attacks on swimmers and divers. Divers report that it is very persistent in baited and unbaited situations. When fended off, an Oceanic whitetip shark often returns, circles and approaches again. Its opportunistic feeding habits, heavy build, strong jaws and teeth, and its stubborn aggressiveness indicate that it should be treated with caution.

Sources:sharksorg

Recorded incidents involving the oceanic whitetip

Recorded

30

Fatal

5

Fatality rate

16.7%

Years

1942–2023

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the oceanic whitetip?
30 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the oceanic whitetip, of which 5 were fatal (16.7%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.
Where do most oceanic whitetip incidents occur?
The countries with the most recorded oceanic whitetip incidents are Egypt, United States, Colombia.
Is the oceanic whitetip dangerous to humans?
The oceanic whitetip is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.
Where does this species data come from?
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.
Back to species