All Animals

Animal Guide

Blacktip Reef Shark

52 destinations · 23 states

Native Range
Tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific

Blacktip reef sharks are lively swimmers that are often easy to spot because of the dark markings on the tips of their dorsal and pectoral fins. At an aquarium, watch how they cruise continuously around the habitat, making smooth turns without seeming to slow down. Their streamlined bodies and narrow snouts are built for moving through shallow coastal water, and their speed becomes more obvious when several sharks pass the viewing window in quick succession. Look for the black-tipped dorsal fin breaking the surface if the habitat allows it, or watch the shark banking sharply as it changes direction. These sharks are commonly found around coral reefs, lagoons, and sandy flats in warm parts of the Indo-Pacific, where they search the seafloor and reef edges for small fish and other prey. They are relatively slender compared with many larger shark species, so seeing one close to the glass can be a useful reminder of just how differently reef sharks are shaped from open-ocean hunters.

Blacktip Reef Shark

Where to see Blacktip Reef Shark

52 destinations across 23 states

52 destinations

ABQ BioPark Aquarium

Albuquerque, NM

Adventure Aquarium

Camden, NJ

Aquarium At The Boardwalk

Branson, MO

Aquarium of Boise

Boise, ID

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, CA

Children's Aquarium Dallas

Dallas, TX

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Discovery Cove

Orlando, FL

East Idaho Aquarium

Idaho Falls, ID

Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den

Scranton, PA

Fort Wayne Zoo

Fort Wayne, IN

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Layton Aquarium & Wildlife

Layton, UT

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Draper, UT

Maui Ocean Center

Wailuku, HI

Moody Gardens

Galveston, TX

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Sarasota, FL

National Aquarium

Baltimore, MD

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

Newport Aquarium

Newport, KY

NorCal Aquarium & Wildlife

Folsom, CA

OdySea Aquarium

Scottsdale, AZ

One World Interactive Aquarium

Las Vegas, NV

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg, TN

San Antonio Aquarium

Leon Valley, TX

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Carlsbad, CA

SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium

Tempe, AZ

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord

Concord, NC

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

Grapevine, TX

SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

SEA LIFE New Jersey Aquarium

East Rutherford, NJ

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Orlando, FL

Sea Life Park Hawaii

Waimanalo Beach, HI

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle, WA

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

St. Louis Aquarium

St. Louis, MO

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

VIA Aquarium

Schenectady, NY

Waikiki Aquarium

Honolulu, HI

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Woodbridge Aquarium & Wildlife Center

Woodbridge, NJ

Your ZooHopper Passport

Turn your wildlife adventures into a Passport

Keep track of the zoos, aquariums, safari parks, and wildlife destinations you've visited—and save the places you want to explore next.

  • Remember every visit
  • Build your wishlist
  • Collect Passport Stamps
  • Share photos & contribute
Create Your Passport

Dan's Passport

Places
12
States
6
Wishlist
9

Passport stamps

Recently visited

  • Bronx ZooBronx, NY
  • Georgia AquariumAtlanta, GA
  • San Diego Zoo Safari ParkEscondido, CA

MY WISHLIST

Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA