Grey reef sharks appear grey from a distance, but show a bronze tint when viewed up close. They have a white underside and are distinguished by a broad black band on the edge of the tail and black markings on the tips of the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is either grey or tipped white. They have a long, broadly rounded snout and round eyes. They are lacking an interdorsal fin.

The IUCN Red List status is Near Threatened (NT).

The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a widespread, social species that formerly was common in clear, tropical, coastal waters and oceanic atolls. Its restricted habitat, site fidelity, inshore distribution, small litter size, and relatively late age at maturity, along with increasing fishing pressure suggests that this species may be under threat. Although caught in tropical multi-species fisheries, it has considerably greater value in dive tourism if protected. With time and additional data, this Near Threatened assessment may need to be revised.

Indo-West Pacific to Central Pacific: Madagascar and the Mauritius-Seychelles area to Tuamoto Archipelago; north to southern China; south to northern Australia.
Occurs on continental and insular shelves and oceanic waters adjacent to them. Common on coral reefs, often in deeper areas near drop-offs to the open sea, in atoll passes, and in shallow lagoons adjacent to areas of strong currents.
Frequently found in large groups in lagoons of coral islands.
Depth range 0 – 1000 meter, usually 0 – 280 meter.

Viviparous, with 1 to 6 pups.