What Is a Grey Reef Shark?

The grey reef shark is a medium-sized shark that lives near coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its scientific name is Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos.

It has a streamlined grey body, a lighter belly, and dark edges on its tail. This colouring helps it stay hidden: from above, its grey back blends with darker water; from below, its pale belly blends with the bright surface.

How Big Is It?

Most grey reef sharks grow to about 1.5–2 metres. Females are often a little larger than males. A large adult may weigh around 20–30 kilograms, although size can vary by region and food supply.

What Does It Eat?

Grey reef sharks eat many kinds of reef animals:

• Small and medium-sized fish
• Squid and octopuses
• Crabs, lobsters, and shrimp
• Sometimes smaller sharks or rays

They often hunt near the edge of a reef, where currents bring food and many animals gather. At night, they may become more active because many reef fish leave their hiding places.

How Does It Hunt?

Grey reef sharks use several senses at once. Their eyes help them see movement, their sense of smell helps them find food from far away, and special organs called ampullae of Lorenzini detect tiny electrical signals from living creatures.

They may hunt alone, but sometimes several sharks search for food in the same area. When fish gather in large schools, hunting can become easier.

Are They Dangerous?

Grey reef sharks are wild predators, so people should always treat them with respect and never touch or chase them. However, they usually avoid humans and prefer to swim away.