oceanic whitetip shark
noun
variants or oceanic whitetip or less commonly oceanic white-tipped shark
plural oceanic whitetip sharks or oceanic whitetips also oceanic white-tipped sharks
: a large, relatively slow-moving requiem shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) that has fins tipped with white, is found chiefly in tropical and subtropical open ocean, and is usually under 10 feet (3.1 meters) in length but may reach a length of 13 feet (4 meters)
Note: The oceanic whitetip shark has long paddle-like pectoral fins and a large, rounded first dorsal fin.
called also whitetip shark
compare whitetip reef shark
Word History
First Known Use
1976, in the meaning defined above