bˈeɪst ˌɔn sˌɪmɪlˈæɹᵻɾiz ɪn mɔːɹfˈɑːlədʒi, tˈuːθ ʃˈeɪp, ænd vˈɜːɾɪbɹəl kˈæɹɪktɚz, ɡˈæɹɪk nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː pɹəpˈoʊzd ðə ɡɹˈeɪ ɹˈiːf ʃˈɑːɹk æz ðə klˈoʊsɪst ɹˈɛlətˌɪv ʌvðə sˈɪlvɚtˌɪp ʃˈɑːɹk.
Based on similarities in morphology, tooth shape, and vertebral characters, Garrick (1982) proposed the grey reef shark as the closest relative of the silvertip shark.