Survival of a grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos without a dorsal fin.

Abstract

An adult, female grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhnchos was observed missing its first dorsal fin in 2014. The same individual was re-photographed 4 years later indicating that this numerically dominant reef shark can survive total loss of its first dorsal fin. While this disability may impair the shark's ability to undertake pursuit predation, the species has a diversity of foraging modes that probably facilitates survival.