The gray reef shark is likely very similar to what most people picture when they hear the word “shark”. As its name implies, it is gray in color and frequents reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. They are one of the first and only sharks that have been observed performing a “threat display”, which involves hunching its back and lowering its pectoral fins to warn other animals that it may attack if cornered.
History:
Gray reef sharks are social creatures and congregate in large numbers on reefs, up to 30 individuals at a time in some cases. While gray reef sharks are a common sight on reefs in their range, their numbers are declining due to a number of factors. They are caught for shark fin soup, a brutal practice that is harming many shark species. They are also declining due to habitat destruction, as their needs are quite specific and damage to coral reefs can affect the shark population.