The World’s First Successful Captive Breeding of the Spot-Tail Shark!One-Year-Old Juvenile Shark on Display

This exhibit has ended.

At Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, we have successfully achieved captive breeding of a spot-tail shark. It has grown steadily since birth and has now reached one year old. The shark is now on display for the public to view. 

• 

  Spot-tail shark pup right after birth,
  length approx. 56 cm.

• 

  One-year-old spot-tail shark
   length approx. 90cm.

Place of exhibit

“The Kuroshio Sea” main tank of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Size of Exhibit

One individual（Female）　
※Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animals.

 At this facility, we managed the expectant mother shark’s health, and prepared the husbandry environment and feeding methods for when the pups were born. On August 30th, 2025, three pups were born, and two of these pups were successfully reared from this time. At birth, the sharks were approximately 56 cm in length, and after a year of rearing, one shark has reached 90 cm in length.

Information on breeding, birth, and the growth of the spot-tail shark is of crucial scientific value, and in this case, the spot-tail shark was successfully bred and reared after birth in captivity for one year. Knowledge of spot-tail shark breeding is limited, and accumulating rearing knowledge will support improved husbandry methods and shed light on its reproduction.

＜Spot-tail shark＞
Scientific name：Carcharhinus sorrah

Spot-tail sharks inhabit shallow waters, particularly around coastal coral reefs in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, including the Ryukyu Islands. 
It is a small requiem shark, that can reach 1.5 meters in length. The tips of the lobes of its pectoral fins, second dorsal fins, and caudal fins are black.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium will continue to advance research on marine life and improve its animal husbandry techniques, while accumulating knowledge that contributes to marine conservation and a better understanding of the marine environment.