OdySea Aquarium welcomes 3 Whitetip Reef Shark pups

OdySea Aquarium announces the birth of three healthy whitetip reef shark — Triaenodon obesus — pups including one male and two female pups.

Born overnight on Aug. 17, according to a press release, the pups entered the world in a private pool at OdySea Aquarium’s offsite facility after an approximately 13-month gestation period.

OdySea Aquarium aquarists transferred the pups to a separate pool of their own soon after their arrival, away from mom, to ensure the safety of the baby sharks. The mother is also doing well since giving birth. Whitetip reef sharks are born ready for independent survival, needing no care from their mother, the release said.

Found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, Central Pacific, Eastern Pacific and off Central America, these sharks earn their name from the distinct white tips on their dorsal and upper tail fins. Long and slender, whitetips are usually found in shallow areas close to shore or resting in the crevices and caves of coral reef habitats. 

OdySea Aquarium’s momma shark is slated to be back on exhibit very soon for visitors to enjoy, while the pups will remain behind-the-scenes until the release said they have achieved substantial growth and maturity. The “pup-dates” on the three baby sharks will often be posted to OdySea Aquarium’s Facebook page and Instagram account, offering updates on the new additions.