White Tipped Sharks in Galapagos

They are distinguished from other sharks by the white tip on both their first dorsal fin and upper caudal fins.

Like most species of sharks, they are drably counter-shaded.

This means that the top and bottom sides are colored differently serving to camouflage the shark from multiple perspectives.

When the shark is viewed from above, its dark top surface blends into the dark ocean depths. When viewed from below, the light-colored belly blends in with the light above. This helps the shark hunt in a stealthy manner, enabling it to sneak up on prey undetected.

White tip reef sharks are very common in the Galapagos Islands. You can often see them resting in shallow waters or constantly swimming near the shores.



Apparently this behavior is related to courtship displays in which males bite females to show their interest. These love bites are commonly found near the females' neck and head.

White tipped sharks in Galapagos can grow up to 2.10 m (6.88 ft) they are curious, gentle and often approach swimmers quite close.

This nocturnal shark feeds primarily on crustaceans, mollusks, small fish, and octopus amongst others.

Sharks have 450 millions years of evolution in which they still conserve ancestral but fascinating characteristics such as the dermal denticles covering their skin as opposed to other fish.

The exorbitant number of teeth that they produce and re-grow constantly, suggests that over a few years, a shark may grow tens of thousands of teeth!!

This explains the abundance of fossils that have been very helpful in science.

The reproductive success on this viviparous fish, consist in their internal fertilization and the production of litters of 1 to 5 sharks.

This 60 cm (1.96 ft) young are born large enough to be independent and to search protection from predators such as other species of sharks.

See Beautiful Galapagos Island Pictures here

Because they do not have a swimming bladder like other fish, white tipped sharks use their large buoyant liver (it constitutes up to 30% of their body mass) and employ a dynamic lift to maintain depth and sink when they are not moving.

During our recommended Galapagos Islands Tours you will have the great opportunity to encounter these amazing white tipped sharks while swimming, snorkeling, riding the zodiacs or strolling along beaches and crevices.

The New York Times, in its special January Travel Edition, recommends the Galapagos Islands in the third position of Places to visit in 2009.

Some important reasons given to explore the Galapagos in 2009 are Charles Darwin's Bicentennial and the 150th Anniversary of the publication of his Origin of the Species, inspired by his observations in Galapagos.

Galapagos Recommended Reading:

Reef Fish Identification: Galapagos
This book is a comprehensive field guide to the fish life in the rich waters that bath the Galapagos Archipelago. If you are a snorkeler a scuba diver or an underwater naturalist and are planning on visiting to the Galapagos, this book will prove to be an invaluable identification aid. (Highly recommended)