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ELASMOPEDIA

Sharks and Rays
of fuvahmulah

learn about different animals found in fuvahmulah waters

in Fuvahmulah

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Tiger Shark

Femunu Miyaru - ފެމުނު މިޔަރު

  • Maximum Size: Up to 5.5 meters

  • Global Distribution: Found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, from the surface to depths exceeding 1,000 m. Present in both coastal and oceanic zones, especially around islands and atolls.

  • Identification: Distinctive dark vertical stripes along the body (especially in juveniles, fading with age), broad head with a blunt snout, large eyes, and a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin.

  • Diet: Opportunistic apex predator — feeds on fish, sea turtles, rays, birds, squid, and even carrion. Known as the “garbage can of the sea.”

Galeocerdo cuvier

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT)

Pelagic Thresher

Nagul Meyre - ނަގުލު މެއިރެ

  • Maximum Size: Around 3 meters (half of which is the elongated tail)

  • Global Distribution: Pelagic species found in tropical and subtropical oceans, often near continental shelves and islands.

  • Identification: Extremely long upper lobe of the tail fin (used to stun prey), small mouth, large eyes, and a sleek metallic-blue body.

  • Diet: Feeds primarily on small schooling fish and squid. The only known shark species to be hunting with its tail

Alopias pelagicus

IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)

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Silvertip Shark 

Kattafulhi Miyaru - ކައްޓަފުޅި މިޔަރު /
Ishakul Meyre - އިށަކުލް މޭރެ

  • Maximum Size: Around 3 meters

  • Global Distribution: Occurs in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, from East Africa to French Polynesia, typically near deep reef slopes, drop-offs, and outer atolls.

  • Identification: Recognizable by the distinct white tips on all fins, especially striking on the dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins. Body is robust and greyish-bronze above, white below.

  • Diet: Preys on reef fish, small sharks, rays, and cephalopods, often hunting near the reef edge.

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)

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Whale Shark

Fehurihi — ފެހުރިހި

  • Maximum Size: Up to 18–20 meters, making it the largest fish in the ocean.

  • Global Distribution: Found in all tropical and warm-temperate seas, typically in surface waters between 30°N and 35°S. Known hotspots include the Maldives, Seychelles, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Mexico.

  • Identification: Massive, broad-headed shark with a wide, terminal mouth and distinct checkerboard pattern of white spots and stripes across a dark bluish-grey body. Its large, sweeping caudal fin and slow, graceful swimming style make it unmistakable.

  • Diet: Filter-feeder, feeds mainly on plankton, small fish, and occasionally squid. It swims slowly near the surface with its mouth open to filter water for food.

Rhincodon typus

IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)

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Scalloped HammerheaD

Kaaligandu Miyaru - ކާލިގަނޑު މިޔަރު /
Beedibol Meyre - ބީޑިބޮލް މޭރެ

  • Maximum Size: Around 4.3 meters

  • Global Distribution: Found circumtropically in warm-temperate and tropical waters; often forms large schools near seamounts and island slopes.

  • Identification: Unique hammer-shaped head (cephalofoil) with a pronounced central indentation (the “scallop”); streamlined body and long pectoral fins.

  • Diet: Preys on schooling fish, squid, rays, and occasionally small sharks.

Shpyrna lewini

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

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Grey Reef Shark

Vahboa Miyaru - ވަށްބޯ މިޔަރު

  • Maximum Size: Up to 2.5 meters

  • Global Distribution: A common reef-associated species found throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific. Typically inhabits coral reef slopes, lagoons, and reef channels, usually in shallow to mid-depth waters.

  • Identification: A robust, streamlined shark with a short, rounded snout and large eyes. The body is grey above and pale below, often with a distinctive darker or black edge on the trailing margin of the caudal fin. The dorsal fins are well-developed and the tail is strongly crescent-shaped, giving it a powerful swimming profile.

  • Diet: Predatory on reef fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans, often hunting along reef slopes and within reef habitats.

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)

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Oceanic Manta Ray

En Madi ފަރު ކޮކާ/
Faru koka އެން މަޑި 

  • Maximum Size: Disc width up to 7 meters; one of the largest rays in the world.

  • Global Distribution: Found circum tropically in warm temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters. Often encountered in offshore and open-ocean habitats, but also visits coastal reefs and seamounts for cleaning and feeding.

  • Identification: Distinguished by its enormous, triangular pectoral fins, dark dorsal surface with a white underside, and two cephalic fins extending from the head. Oceanic mantas are generally darker than reef mantas, with unique spot patterns on the belly used for individual identification.

  • Diet: Filter-feeder, consumes zooplankton, small crustaceans, and occasionally fish eggs, by swimming with open mouths through dense patches of plankton-rich water.

Mobula birostris

IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)

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Whitetip reef shark

Nagul Meyre - ނަގުލު މެއިރެ

Olhufathi Miyaru - އޮޅުފަތި މިޔަރު

  • Maximum Size: Up to 1.6–1.8 meters

  • Global Distribution: A common reef-associated species found throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the central Pacific. Typically inhabits shallow coral reefs, lagoons, channels, and reef slopes.

  • Identification: A slender-bodied shark with a short, flattened snout, small eyes, and a broad mouth. Coloration is grey-brown above and pale below, with distinctive white tips on the first dorsal fin and upper caudal fin. The dorsal fins are similar in size and the tail is slightly elongated.

  • Diet: Predatory on reef fishes, octopus, crustaceans, and other small reef organisms, often hunting at night and using caves and ledges for shelter.

Triaenodon obesus

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)

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Oceanic whitetip shark

Fee kanfaiy Miyaru - ފީކަންފަތް މިޔަރު

  • Maximum Size: Up to 4.5 meters

  • Global Distribution: A rare, wide-ranging species found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Typically inhabits offshore waters and open ocean environments, often near deep reefs, seamounts, and drop-offs.

  • Identification: A stout-bodied shark with a rounded snout and long, broad pectoral fins. The body is grey-brown above and pale below, with the distinctive white tips on the dorsal, pectoral, and tail fins. The first dorsal fin is large and rounded, giving the shark a powerful, prehistoric appearance.

  • Diet: Predatory on bony fishes, cephalopods, and smaller sharks, usually hunting in open water or near deep reef slopes.

Carcharhinus longimanus

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

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Small-tooth Sand Tiger Shark

 Theyo Miyaru - ތެޔޮ މިޔަރު /
Meedhaa Miyaru - މީދާ މިޔަރު

  • Maximum Size: Up to 4.5 meters

  • Global Distribution: A rare, deep-water species found in tropical and temperate regions worldwide. Typically inhabits depths between 60 – 800 m along continental slopes, seamounts, and island drop-offs.

  • Identification: Stout-bodied shark with a conical snout, small eyes, and long slender teeth visible even when the mouth is closed. Coloration is grey-brown above and pale below, sometimes with faint blotches. The dorsal fins are similar in size, and the tail fin is elongated with a prominent upper lobe, giving it a prehistoric appearance.

  • Diet: Predatory on bony fishes, small sharks, and cephalopods, usually hunting near the seabed or mid-water along deep reef slopes.

Odontaspis ferox

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)

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