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Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Fish · family Carcharhinidae · order Carcharhiniformes

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Blacktip Shark
Photo: Albert Kok at Dutch Wikipedia Later versions were uploaded by Siebrand at nl.wikipedia ., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
Native in
4 states[2]
Longest recorded life
12 years[3]

The Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a fish in the family Carcharhinidae[4]. NatureServe records it as native in Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, and its IUCN Red List category is Vulnerable[2][5].

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe for this shark is Vulnerable[5]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe state ranks are SNR in Delaware and Georgia, and S4 in South Carolina and Texas[6]. Listings can change by federal rule[1].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[5] Vulnerable

Where Blacktip Shark lives

NatureServe lists the Blacktip Shark as native in 4 US states and territories: Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas[2]. This is where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama[7]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many sharks live there[7].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: native, state rank SNRDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: native, state rank SNRGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (4 states)
StateRankMeaning
DelawareSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure

Lifespan

In AnAge, a female Blacktip Shark reaches sexual maturity at 2,555 days[8]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 12 years[3]. That is a record and not a typical lifespan[3].

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 12 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[9] 4.6
Female maturity[8] 2,555 days (about 7.0 years)

When to look for it

GBIF observation records of the Blacktip Shark in the United States are highest in May, June and July[10]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[10].

January: 29 recordsJanFebruary: 22 recordsFebMarch: 51 recordsMarApril: 98 recordsAprMay: 298 recordsMayJune: 200 recordsJunJuly: 222 recordsJulAugust: 125 recordsAugSeptember: 124 recordsSepOctober: 87 recordsOctNovember: 39 recordsNovDecember: 48 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[10].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January29
February22
March51
April98
May298
June200
July222
August125
September124
October87
November39
December48

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Blacktip Shark as present in 9 park units[11]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama[7]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Blacktip Shark endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[5].
Where does the Blacktip Shark live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas[2]. GBIF has the most observation records in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama, but records follow observer effort[7].
How long does a Blacktip Shark live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild in AnAge is 12 years[3]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].
When is the Blacktip Shark seen in the US?
GBIF records are highest in May, June and July[10]. Records reflect when people look and report[10].

Facts and sources

  1. Blacktip Shark is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe lists Blacktip Shark as native in 4 US states and territories: Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 12 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a fish in the family Carcharhinidae, order Carcharhiniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Blacktip Shark (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Blacktip Shark: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  8. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,555 days (about 7.0 years). AnAge
  9. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4.6. AnAge
  10. GBIF observation records of Blacktip Shark in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  11. NPSpecies park lists recording Blacktip Shark as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Albert Kok at Dutch Wikipedia Later versions were uploaded by Siebrand at nl.wikipedia ., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.