Creature Feature: Blacktip Reef Shark!

Join shark scientist Kristian Parton as he dives into this creature feature about the blacktip reef shark! Why does the blacktip reef shark have a black tip on its fin? Are blacktip reef sharks aggressive? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the video!
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Shark Bytes is a youtube channel dedicated to bringing you all the latest news, research and information about sharks around the world! Kristian Parton is a current marine biologist and shark researcher who has spent many years working with sharks in the field and laboratory. Having a passion for sharks and rays from a young age, Kristian now wants to bring the weird and wonderful world of sharks to your screens at home!
If you enjoyed this video make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel, you'll also be able to check out some of our other great content on the Shark Bytes home page here: / @sharkbytes
Interested in more content? Check out some of our videos here:
- 47m Down movie commentary: • Watch '47 METERS DOWN:...
- Orca's HUNTING Great White Sharks: • Why Orcas Are Hunting ...
- STUPID Shark Week Stunt: • Why Did Shark Week Do ...
Want to hear more about what Kristian is researching at the moment? Check out his Twitter to keep up to date with his shark research here: / kjparton or follow the Shark Bytes Twitter @SharkBytes1994
We're now on TikTok! If you're interested in shorter form content check out the Shark Bytes TikTok account: @SharkBytes1994
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Credits:
Outro music: Beggs N' Acon - Heatwave: • Beggs N' Acon - Heatwa...
Shark Bytes Logo animation: George Vary
All content used is in conjunction with the creative commons license, no copyright infringement intended.

[@jadedarling6891]

I’ve gotten into a routine of watching shark bites before bed and I don’t regret a thing.

[@SHARKBYTES]

Great bed time routine 😁

[@jadedarling6891]

@@SHARKBYTES I couldn’t agree more!

[@Marshmobilise]

Me too but I end up having sharky dreams 😮😢

[@jadedarling6891]

@@Marshmobilise well, now I must know what your dreams consist of. Please enlighten me

[@Emzibubble87]

@@MarshmobiliseI’ve had so many sharky dreams lately 😂

[@aidagalito]

I've seen hundreds of them snorkeling in The Maldives. When I asked the locals if they were dangerous they said "nah, they are vegetarian" which I knew that wasn't true but reasured me to enter the water. Those are some of my most trasured memories

[@nqgamer]

Okay, we need a shark tier list video from you as to which ones you love the most and, this is where it gets spicey, which ones you don’t like.

[@SHARKBYTES]

I like this idea tbf

[@nqgamer]

@@SHARKBYTES you could have a lot of fun with it tbh. All animals, even the ones that we have bad interactions with from time to time, are amazing, but you could really meme the less desirable attributes. Oceanic White Tips are the psychos, Hammerheads the inbreds, bull sharks have anger management issues, etc. you know the breeds better and probably know the inside jokes amongst shark scientists.

[@lizycole8999]

Blacktip reef sharks are a popular species to keep in public aquariums, I've noticed. Stands to reason because they're so photogenic.

[@DazDaMan]

I love blacktip reef sharks! I got to feed some when I did a shark-keeper experience at an aquarium some years ago - it was pretty epic.

[@im3phirebird81]

I agree it is a lot less invasive to identify these sharks with pictures than stopping them and asking for ID / license and registration every time xD

[@CYERI0N]

I love blacktip reef sharks! I'm generally fearful yet fascinated by sharks, and this species is just one I find straight up adorable. Thanks for covering them!

[@ghostshirt1984]

Most sharks are harmless to people like the many in public, private home aquariums to the whale sharks and basking sharks that eat plankton. There's also dog fish sharks that are harmless to people.

[@tanukibeth7693]

Yea, they look like those shark gummies

[@lucycecil5682]

babe wake up !! new shark bytes video just dropped !

[@kcgunzz3416]

I just wanted to say that I love the new and improved (and lengthened) creature features. And, I too love the black tips.

[@surfrider986]

Nice one, buddy - I've been lucky enough to snorkel with these cuties 😃. I just love these creature features 😃

[@MermaidMama360]

Thank for covering this shark. It has been on my radar for decades and now I feel like I understand them better. Brilliant.

[@SHARKBYTES]

They are absolutely one of my favourites!

[@sarahmoore6183]

Would love to see a video going into more depth about the differences and similarities between black tip sharks and black tip reef sharks.

[@keithdrummond1003]

Very cool. I fell into the category of confusing black tips and black tip reefs.😮

[@valerieunsworth4038]

I saw one while snorkelling in The Maldives. Breathtaking.

[@aidagalito]

Just one? I saw hundreds. The first night we arrived at the resort we were welcomed by a 1.5 meter black tip shark stranded on the beach that took 5 good minutes to manage to enter the water. After that I swam past them all the time for a whole week. I don't know, maybe It was mating season but there were hundreds

[@wildworld6264]

2:43 😂😂😂. I come for the facts but stay for the humour.

[@SHARKBYTES]

Damn the discovery channel nonsense 😂😂

[@sharks3653]

Thank you Kris. I've been asking for this creature feature all summer. These are my favorite species of sharks. I think the study where they were identifying the same individuals over and over via photos of the fin coloration was awesome. I also think it's cool how quickly they healed. It's also cool that female black tip reef sharks traveled over 50 kilometers to reach nursery grounds. Thank you so much for this creature feature!🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈

[@SHARKBYTES]

Thought you’d enjoy this one! 😁😂

[@sharks3653]

@@SHARKBYTES I absolutely did. This is why I absolutely love being a SHARK BYTES member.🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈

[@JudeenGarza]

WOW You are AWESOME!!! I never lost interest for one second. Everything you said was relevant to the subject AND interesting. Blacktip Reef Sharks are VERY beautiful and i SO appreciate them now. THANK YOU!!!

[@kellyntoombs7873]

Thank you for these facts, especially the conservation info! I work at an aquarium and the blacktip reef sharks are a favorite among guests. Their relatively small size means guests often mistake them for baby sharks, but they nevertheless want to learn all about them!

[@ShepherdsCreek]

Definitely still want that mako creature feature 😅

[@SHARKBYTES]

Promise it’ll be done at some point soon!!

[@BinroWasRight]

One of the many species that unfortunately get overlooked because they're not five-meter great whites. But they're so very scrappy and graceful both that it's hard not to love them when you really get to know them. Your love of them shows here. Well done, sir!

[@dacksonflux]

Blacktip Reefers are one of my favorite species of fish. They're right up there with Sand Tiger Sharks.

[@pamelajackson6954]

Okay I feel really stupid. I thought the black tip reef shark and black tip shark were the same 🤦. Well, it is good to learn new information. I would like to know what causes the shark to heal so fast. I know previous studies thought it was the huge liver. I'm going to go nerdy and look for this study 🤓

[@SHARKBYTES]

Supposedly the liver does play a role in detoxifying their bodies. The dermal denticles also have a role in regards to them being continuously replaced. And then finally it’s in their genes! They’ve got some important genetics that are tied in to wound healing, especially blood clotting genes.

[@DrBrule-ht2ms]

I just stumbled across this channel randomly and it’s phenomenal. Much better than the typical shark videos with dramatic voiceovers that you see on Discovery or Nat Geo.

[@SHARKBYTES]

Hey! Super glad you’re enjoying Shark Bytes 🦈😁

[@tylermiller7789]

I remember seeing these guys at the beach earlier in the year. There were about three juvenile blacktips that were in the water near us.

[@sarahmendel2962]

When I was on my diving trip in the maldives a blacktip reefshark swam right into my face... Nothing happened to me or the shark but the shark was definetly not expecting a human in its path... I laughed it off and it's something i'll never forget. On my trip, I also dove with nursesharks, whalesharks, manta rays etc... It was absolutly amazing and its an experience i'll never forget. The manta ray even slapped my mask off my face on my night dive, and one of the divers caught it on video! I was doing my final exams project on plastic in our oceans, and I actually made a book which i'd love to show you (I just dont know how) - Im a graphic designer and photographer and I love the ocean more than anything! I'm a new subscriber and i've been binging your content for the last couple of days. Please keep making these videos, I love them so much! Sorry for my little rant I just really wanted to share my tiny story!

[@sujeanthsunbeam]

I would love a creature feature on the bonnethead shark! I love those little cuties along with the fact that they eat seagrass

[@EllieKedward]

So excited for this one! Blacktip Reef is one of my favourite sharks! I've been wanting a proper shark tattoo as well myself (we won't talk about the little one on my thumb), and I'm always so torn between these little cuties, and whale sharks

[@sharks3653]

The Black tip reef shark is my favorite species of shark 🦈 🦈🦈🦈🦈

[@Winternightsnowflower]

Loved all facts. Such a beautiful shark (and yes, would be an absolute shame to lose this beautiful species) 🥰

[@user-to5to4yo6t]

Good video

[@KyriosMirage]

Thank you for that Black Tip vs Black Tip Reef comparison, I was going to inquire about that.

[@weilim10]

This is the shark I've seen the most of while snorkeling, scuba diving. Just last week, a juvenile blacktip reef approached me, swam right under my legs. FYI, I'm from Malaysia: shark finning is still legal, baby sharks often sold in fish markets.

[@chrissunley678]

A blacktip reef shark was one of the first sharks I had the pleasure of swimming with on the Ningaloo reef in the north west of Western Australia. Seeing this just brought back the incredible feeling of seeing one in the wild. Keep up the awesome work Kris!

[@larslenny5064]

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SHARK

[@eqqulate]

YAYY!! I’d love to see one on those sharks that we don’t have much info on 👀 Like Bramble Sharks, Pondicherry Sharks, excettera 😂

[@ryancharlton292]

Love your content mate

[@funpheonix9752]

My favorite shark!!! ❤ they’re in an aquarium that’s local to me. I love them so much and it’s always a treat when they swim by me in the tank!

[@tomwood555]

I went to the aquarium in Atlanta Georgia and they had some Silvertip sharks there, gorgeous sharks 🦈 and would love an episode on them

[@shylapalmeira2207]

We have a lot of those here in Hawaii 🌺🌈☀️🌴🥥

[@AndyFarnham]

Back in 1986, I lived in Saudi Arabia, and would spend many weekends swimming in the Red sea. One of the places we would go was a lagoon. I was swimming out to the main reef, and came up for air when I heard one of my dad's friends at the reef shout shark. So I put in my snorkel, and floated sill in the water, and saw a beautiful black tip reef shark swimming not far ahead of me. The next day I had a white tip reef shark swim on the bottom about 6m below me. I often think back to the 5 years I spent out there, and wonder how many sharks saw me but I didn't see them! Parenting was a bit different back then! Could you imagine letting your 6-10 year old swim alone for hours in the Red sea today?

[@JulianaSpetlana]

Curled up in my shark blanket with my shark plushie watching shark bites to wind down, nothing better. Love black tiped reefs! Kayaked with them in a mangrove where they were just chilling. Watching them from above, letting them do their thing without disrupting as much as possible. They were cool, just hanging out in groups having a nap.

[@mdmjeremiah]

The Blacktip has always been my absolute favorite shark since I was a child. I’ve literally spent hours just watching them at aquariums I’ve been too. I remember getting a plush blacktip from Sea World when I was on a field trip 30+ years ago and I still have it. Thank you for featuring these guys!

[@RichardHeadGaming]

So Black tip reef sharks learned to hate the Paparazzi too.

[@factchecker472]

Good video! I've seen lots of these sharks while snorkeling and diving, so shocked to hear that they're under serious threat of extinction - that's very bad news.

[@TOMCATFAN]

I love the Blacktip Reef Sharks, My wife and I swam with them in FP and I got some great pics of her with one.

[@ianscreamsvideo]

I just missed a visit by a black tip. I was snorkeling in Hawaii and just as I was exiting the water, I turned back and right where I had just been…I saw the pair of fins cut through the water. Pretty decent size I’d say 5ft long gauging by the fins distance. I was a little shook to be honest. I probably would have panicked a touch had it swam by me.

[@mtathos_]

Loved it. Love me reef sharks. Video is perfectly balanced with the clips man, well done as always!

[@scorpion-lg4ic]

the back tattoo was my fav tidbit of info....lol

[@leahvatson6379]

Your videos are always so entertaining and fun, yet very educational as well!! Thanks for always making interesting content!!

[@dianevcic6210]

Blacktip and Blacktip reef shark's are two of my all time favorites too! They're so beautiful and cool 😎 looking 😍 Awesome creature feature video Kris. Keep up with the great work man! 😃🙂💙💙💙

[@KaiIsHere92]

Blacktip Reef Sharks are my favorite shark! I even have a squishmallow that I am pretty sure is based on one.

[@tanukibeth7693]

Black tip reef sharks, my favorite shark species, they’re just so cute

[@JONATHAN-yh3dm]

Hope we'll get a creature feature on the Grey nurse shark. Such an iconic species

[@AntnAndArr]

One of my favorite sharks

[@heatherm2324]

I really enjoy your documentary style of your vlog

[@nebel9628]

Blacktip Reef Sharks are awesome! Also I recently visited a museum in Dublin which had a "Porbeagle Shark" and since I'd never heard of them before that I would love to know more about them. Keep it up!

[@n.i.k.1977]

You are so likable! I always enjoy your videos! Thx 🫶🏼🦈🖤

[@rottweilerfun9520]

Thank you Kris , another banger !

[@indielixir100]

bro this is cool i swam with blacktip reef sharks earlier this month

[@Tseringlhatso]

Great video again, thanks!

[@laowra272]

I love Clyde and Seymour! 🤩

[@JohnWilliams-hw9yn]

That was fantastic. So many great facts, but that Wolverine like healing capability is incredible. I’m putting Lessepsian migration in my locker for any future pub quiz.

[@SHARKBYTES]

Lessepsian migrant is such a great one to throw out

[@patkelly8309]

This was a great video. Thanks

[@theturts9626]

Pls do the short fin mako next they are my favorite

[@cynthiaboras9775]

Very nice creature feature. I think you could have done black tip and black tip reef on the comparison side a little more. Are they related? Let´s face it, the black tips are just a bit more exciting since they do attack people quite a lot in comparison. The famous 4 attacks in a day along the Florida coast. Still interesting facts and studies on the smaller version. Thank you for finding those.

[@lieslhemsworth6293]

I could listen to you all day. I get so excited when I see the notification for your videos. Fill my brain please 💚

[@aquarianfog]

Me learning that Lessepsian is a word 👁️🫦👁️

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

That would be Etymology, Entomology is the study of insects. Sorry, its in the construcive criticism spirit lol, great video as always and beautiful sharks! Love your videos, you're one of my favourite channels that I discovered in the last year.

[@huggledemon32]

I’m pretty sure I swam with two small black tip reef sharks while in Malaysia years ago. I was on a snorkeling holiday on one of the islands there, and we were swimming in what they called “the baby shark pool” foolishly I thought “ oh I’m sure it’s just a name, they wouldn’t let us REALLY swim with sharks! Anyway, I wandered slightly away from the rest of the group swimming, and got distracted by coral and fish etc, then looked to my left, small shark (maybe 2 feet log) swimming along side me from a few meters away, and then I looked to my right, ANOTHER one doing the same thing- keeping up, swimming along side me a few meters away. I swam back to the main group quite swiftly lol ( but also oddly calm🤷🏻‍♀️👍🏼😅) Amazing but freaky experience!

[@heatherstephens9295]

I thought their healing capabilities were amazing 👍👍

[@riafitzgerald2988]

Love your shows! So good!!!❤❤

[@ggoty]

My fave channel on YT!

[@bennettnez4711]

Dwarf lanternshark creature feature, perhaps? Thanks for pumping out high-quality content consistently. I'm very happy to count you among my 5 KZbin subscriptions.

[@dave14162]

A feature on how sharks fare in captivity would be interesting.

[@julieslowgrove3524]

Loved it thank you

[@sophiavarnai6692]

Such a great video! In the next season I’d be curious to see an episode on trophic cascades and your thoughts, since I know it’s a pretty highly debated subject among scientists. As a member of the general public, though, that food chain argument is the main one I’ve come across for shark conservation. So it’d be interesting to hear the social/political implications of it discussed in combination with scientific research and nuances!

[@MermaidMusings7]

Such an underrated species.

[@marciwitcher5544]

I once got "bitten" on the hand by a BABY Blacktip when I was 8. He was only about 10 inches long, and he BARELY scratched me while I was trying to take him off my hook to put him back. I put him back safe and sound and walked away with the shark bite equivalent of a paper cut 😂

[@stefanooliva4147]

love sharks, and love ur vids, thanks, greetings from italy❤

[@zerogamerx1087]

I really like these and I just recently subscribed and I love this channel. I have a few shark suggestions maybe cookie cutters, any dog fish, or the salmon sharks!

[@susiedonahue2874]

Great episode as per usual, this shark is so cool looking, it would suck to loose it. Thank you for creature features, my favorite

[@SHARKBYTES]

Really glad you enjoyed it!!

[@nicollekyostia6764]

PS. We accidentally caught a Black Tip about 10 years ago over a ship wreck of the coast of Florida (gulf side). It wasn't being revived, so my Grandpa said we'd have to keep it and eat it so as not to waste. It was DELICIOUS. We just grilled it with lemon and it was like a chicken breast.

[@5amH45lam]

Is it less about two BTRSs being friends, as such, and more about them trusting each other, as in not feeling any threat around one-another?

[@baileyschultz4320]

Swam with these guys off Phi Phi island when I was 8 in Thailand (kinda near where the Beach was filmed) and they were super curious but not aggressive.

[@JurassicReptile]

I hope you do the Sand Tiger Shark one day, that's one of my favourites

[@julrashiddilangalen]

Cute tattoo.. I love these sharks too.

[@andreafranceschini3889]

I really did not know about the "friendship" in black tips

[@jdx4174]

Greetings. Hope you had a great week!

[@devonmoon5016]

Love your tattoos !! 😍

[@maureenparton7104]

Great video Kj. Is the black tip reef shark the first ever shark you saw when you went diving with dad?

[@soulfoodsmama2980]

I’ve never heard of black-tip reef sharks crossing the Suaz canal, but I have heard of them passing the Panama Canal into the Gulf of Mexico, I’ve seen them while diving coral reefs in Florida and they’re absolutely adorable. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen one, which probably does have to do with the fact our coral reefs have been struggling. It would be great if you could do an episode on how people can do more to help coral reef survival.🖤

[@sweetroscoeful]

I would think an interesting "Creature Feature" would be a dual creature so to speak, comparing the Porbeagle and Salmon shark, discussing their similarities, their differences, their ancestry (are they product of convergent evolution or divergent?) thanks...

[@karllewis735]

Breaking: Shark Expert says "No Sharks in Mediterranean Sea" :upside_down_face:

[@user-nt5yn8hd4y]

hey I love your video content and studies. Doing a great job thank you so much. I was wondering what courses to go to if I want to follow your same job as a scientist?

[@gafrers]

Quality

[@nasser6692]

lately I became obsessed with sharks, chess and metaethics. the internet is amazing.

[@tatianasafi4458]

Hi Kris, can you pls do a creature feature on thresher sharks? Thank u for this one too!

[@StanWatt.]

I've spent many an hour on the reefs of Tahiti and her sister islands swimming with the BT reef sharks.

[@Zepporium]

I swam with black top reef sharks in Bora Bora. I don't know if I'd do that again. Lol. I understand that they're fairly docile, but I wouldn't take the chance again.

[@kyleahmed6345]

Snorkeled with a few of these in the Maldives, they seemed quite shy and kept their distance. One was quite curious though and approached me but as i swam towards it, it bolted really quickly. There was probably about 1.5m between us before he U-Turned nd torpedoed outta there

[@Sonicfan2009-i1g]

The best youtuber, for me atleast