Lemon shark
The lemon shark, named for its light yellowish-brown coloration, is a species found in the shallow and medium-depth waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They can grow up to 11 feet (3.5 meters) in the wild and weigh as much as 400 pounds (180 kilograms). Known for their hunting prowess, lemon sharks primarily feed on various fish, including mullet and squid, and are often solitary hunters, though they may gather in schools when prey is abundant.
Lemon sharks are believed to mate during the spring and summer, with females giving birth to up to 17 pups after a gestation period of 10 to 12 months. The young typically stay in safe areas, such as beds of seaweed, until they can fend for themselves. Although they have no significant predators, adult lemon sharks may occasionally eat juvenile sharks.
This species is currently classified as near threatened, mainly due to human activities like pollution, which pose risks to their habitats. In addition to their ecological importance, lemon sharks are valuable to scientific research, where they are studied for various physiological aspects. Their lifespan is noted to be around 25 years in captivity and can reach up to 30 years in the wild.
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Lemon shark
The lemon shark is so named for its light, yellowish-brown color. It is said to be a vicious hunter, often attacking and killing members of its own species. The lemon shark can be found throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Negaprion
Species: Brevirostris
The full-grown lemon shark reaches a length of up to 11 feet (3 1/2 meters) in the wild and 8 1/2 feet (2 1/2 meters) in captivity. The lemon shark can weigh up to 400 pounds (180 kilograms). The shark has two triangular dorsal fins on its topside which are roughly the same size.
The lemon shark inhabits shallow and medium-depth bay waters as opposed to the depths of the open seas.
The lemon shark feeds along the water's surface. It hunts and feeds on any good-sized fish that crosses its path. Its diet includes mullet, ladyfish, and small groupers. When it ventures into deeper waters its diet expands to include mackerel, bonito, and squid. Young lemon sharks, called pups, are commonly seen together feeding in small schools in shallow waters. Adult lemon sharks commonly feed alone but occasionally feed in schools whenever large groups of fish, called shoals, are encountered.
Most of the information available on the breeding practices of the lemon shark is based on sharks in captivity. However, the lemon shark is believed to mate during the spring and summer months in the wild. After mating, the female shark gives birth in shallow water to up to 17 young. The gestation period, or length of time the young take to develop inside the female, is 10 to 12 months. The newborn sharks, or pups, remain on beds of seaweed and vegetation before swimming off and breaking the umbilical cord from which they receive nutrition from their mother. Almost immediately after being born, the pups are generally on their own, although male lemon sharks may remain involved. Pups form small schools and move inshore to hunt for fish.
Increases in human development and its negative side-effects, such as chemical pollution, put the long-term safety of this shallow-water creature into question. The lemon shark is classified as a near threatened species. The fish currently holds a great deal of value to the scientific community. Scientists in the United States test anesthetics, cardiac responses, and eye movement on the lemon shark.
While lemon sharks have no known predators, adults may occasionally prey upon juveniles. Its life span is 25 years in captivity and 30 years in the wild.
Bibliography
Hitchcock, Kristin. “Lemon Shark.” A-Z Animals, 3 Aug. 2022, a-z-animals.com/animals/lemon-shark. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024. Lister, Alexander. “ADW: Negaprion Brevirostris: Information.” Animal Diversity Web, 2013, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Negaprion‗brevirostris. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.