blacktip reef shark
Common name for the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus), a small shark found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters.
Blacktip reef sharks are often seen in shallow coral reefs.
black tip
Archaic original meaning; literally 'black tip' or 'black edge'. Now almost exclusively used in the shark name.
In old documents, the expression 端黒 (つまぐろ) referring to the black tip of an arrow can be found.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form; rarely used. 端 means 'edge' and 黒 means 'black', referring to the black tips.
Alternate kanji form; rarely used. 妻 can mean 'edge' in this context.
From 端 (つま, 'edge') + 黒 (くろ, 'black'), referring to the black tips on the shark's fins. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.