Clear water sharks – Muddy coastal habitats. New research shows that coastal mangroves and mudflats can be vital to reef shark populations

Reef sharks live on coral reefs. This is where they are seen and photographed, and reefs are usually where fishermen catch them. The normal reef shark we see in the Pacific is a sleek grey animal against a background of clear blue water and corals. However, in some places, large numbers of reef sharks can be found in muddy coastal waters, mangroves and seagrass beds (Fig. 1), but it is only recently that research has documented what they are using these habitats for.