Oceanic Whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus)

Calm yet commanding, the oceanic whitetip glides through the open sea with slow, confident movements. Its broad fins, tipped in white, seem to catch the sunlight as if made for vast horizons — a true wanderer of the blue.

Scientific Snapshot

An oceanic whitetip shark drifting through the open ocean, its wide fins and white-tipped edges glowing softly in the midwater light.

From the Field

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus longimanus

Common Names: Oceanic whitetip shark, longfin shark

Average Size: Typically 2.5 to 3 meters (8–10 feet)

Habitat: Pelagic — prefers open ocean far from shore in tropical and subtropical waters

Diet: Bony fish, squid, and carrion

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Range: Circumtropical — found worldwide in warm open oceans

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