close
5 Sharks of the Great Barrier Reef

5 Sharks of the Great Barrier Reef

Written by Scuba.com
|
Updated on July 7, 2023
Lemon Shark

There are more than 450 species of sharks in existence today, which occupy all the world’s oceans and even some freshwater bodies. Sharks are highly migratory, but like other migratory species, they have common points to which they return and inhabit for certain periods throughout the year. Let’s take a look at just five shark species of the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Sharks

White Tip Reef Shark

White Tip Reef Shark
White Tip Reef Shark. Image via Shutterstock

One of the most commonly found species in the Great Barrier Reef is the white tip reef shark. On average, these sharks are around 6 feet long. This pales in comparison to sharks such as the great white, which can reach up to 20 feet in length! White tips can often be found lying on the sand near caves or overhangs, and are generally active at nighttime. As their name implies, this species can be identified by the white tips on the ends of their fins.

Whale Shark

whale shark with scuba divers
Whale shark. Image via Shutterstock

Whale sharks are one of the must-see shark species of the Great Barrier Reef. These sharks grow up to 50 feet long, and can be found around the surface of the ocean where plankton bloom. While they have 300-350 rows of tiny teeth, they use filter pads in their mouths to strain plankton out of the water for sustenance.

Tassled Wobbegong Shark

Wobbegong
Tassled Wobbegong Shark. Image via Shutterstock

A smaller species of shark you might see in the Great Barrier Reef is the tasseled wobbegong shark. These sharks grow from 4 feet long to a maximum of 10 feet. They can be identified by an unusual fringe along the front of their flat head, as well as their unique camouflage pattern. The tasseled wobbegong spends most of its time on the ocean floor where it hunts lobsters, crabs, octopus, and bony fish. They are nocturnal hunters and can swallow prey almost as big as themselves.

Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark. Image via Shutterstock

Lemon sharks are a bottom-dwelling shark species of the Great Barrier Reef. They are named as such because their yellow-brown pitted skin looks similar to the skin of a lemon. This allows them to blend into the sandy seafloor where they do their hunting.

Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark. Image via Shutterstock

While rare, you might see the voracious tiger shark swimming in the Great Barrier Reef. These sharks are second only to great whites as the record holders of attacks on humans. These sharks can grow up to 16 feet, and tend to eat anything that comes across their path.

scuba.com favicon

Scuba.com

Our team of experts and scuba diving pros at Scuba.com share their knowledge of the underwater world.