4 metres

Average size The biggest threat to pelagic species such as the oceanic whitetip is the mounting fishing pressure throughout its range. Large sharks are also potential predators, especially for immature individuals and juveniles Although not the biggest of the requiem sharks, they are opportunistic and competitive hunters and will often approach divers and investigate them closely. They are known to target the victims of air and sea disasters, and are suspected to be guilty of many unrecorded human fatalities.

Consequently, they are considered one of the most dangerous of all shark species