blacktip shark

noun

black·tip shark ˈblak-ˌtip-

variants or blacktip or less commonly black-tipped shark

ˈblak-ˌtipt-

: a small, grayish requiem shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) with black-tipped fins that is widely distributed in coastal tropical and subtropical seas

The vast majority of shark bites are from so-called hit-and-run attacks by smaller species, such as blacktip sharks. They mistake thrashing arms or dangling feet as a prey item, dart in, bite and let go when they realize it's not a fish.—

Tim Friend

Examples of blacktip shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Unlike a blacktip shark, which eats smaller fish whole and would likely leave just small puncture wounds on a human, bull shark bites are typically much more severe, said Grubbs, the Florida State University expert. —

Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024 Smaller sharks, including blacktip sharks, can be key menu items for larger sharks, such as great hammerheads. —

Michael Heithaus, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024 The boy dove onto a blacktip shark, which witnesses said was 4 to 5 feet long, CBS affiliate WKMG reported. —

CBS News, 9 July 2024 The first instance occurred in January 2022, when a drone recorded two orcas swimming near a blacktip shark. —

Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for blacktip shark

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of blacktip shark was in 1916

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Blacktip shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blacktip%20shark. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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