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Lemon Shark
Threat Level: medium

Scientific Name:
Negaprion Brevirostris
Family Name: Carcharhinidae
- General Information: The lemon shark is a large,
stout-bodied reef shark with a pale yellow-brown body with no
obvious markings and a broad, flattened head. It is easily identified
by its large dorsal fins, which are about equal size. The anal
fin, immediately below the second dorsal fin, is also large. The
pectoral fins are long and curve back on the trailing edge. There
is no lateral keel, and unlike many requiem sharks, it has no
interdorsal ridge.
- Size: Lemon sharks are one of the larger species
of sharks and can average 8 to 10 feet long. One of the largest
recorded catch was 12 feet long. Lemon shark pups are born between
24 to 26 inches. Adults can weigh from 100 to 200 pounds.
- Teeth: The lemon sharks upper teeth are narrow
and broad with triangular smoothed-edged cusps and finely serrated
bases. The lower teeth are narrow and triangular with smooth-edged
cusps. The teeth are located in rows which rotate into use as
needed. As teeth are lost, broken, or worn down, they are replaced
by new teeth that rotate into place.
- Color: The lemon shark has a yellow-brown or
olive gray color on the dorsal surface and a lighter yellowish
color on the undersides. There are no conspicuous markings.
- Feeding Habits: The adult lemon shark feed
mostly on bony fishes including( cowfish, spiny boxfish, croaker,
jacks, mullet and catfish) and elasmobranchs including( guitarfish,
stingrays and other sharks) but also eat crabs, lobsters, sea
birds and conchs. Larger lemon sharks have also been found with
sea turtle remains ( flippers ) in their stomachs Feeding occurs
apparently occurs throughout the day and night, although this
species is most active at during twilight hours. Lemon sharks
will eat until full with the rate of digestion is dependent on
the amount of food consumed at a single time. This shark usually
has one of two prey items in its stomach at any one time. Lemon
sharks are capable of flipping their stomachs out of their mouths
to eject undigested or indigestible materials. Sharks, including
lemon sharks, regularly eat items they cannot digest such as large
bones, metal items such as license plates, and of course, trash.
Being able to eject these materials prevents the shark from being
injured or killed.
- Social Behaviour: Lemon sharks are typically
a solitary species. It display a possible agonistic display consisting
of figure-eight swimming and jaw gaping.
- Habitat | Migration | Distribution: The lemon
shark is commonly found near the surface in subtropical shallow
water to depths of 300 feet and inhabits coral reefs, mangroves,
and river mouths. It has adapted to be highly tolerent of shallow
waters with low oxygen levels, such as warm-water mangrove swamps
or bays. The lemon shark is also known to form loose aggregations
based on size and sex and have been seen congregating near docks
and fishing piers during the night, and returning to deep water
during the day.
- Life Span: It is believed that the lemon shark
has an average life span of 27 years.
- Reproduction: Lemon sharks are viviparous,
giving birth to live free swimming pups. They mate in the spring
and summer and about one year later give birth to 4 to 17 live
young, about 2 feet in length. When these sharks copulate the
male swims alongside the female. The male also bites the female
during courtship.
- Lemon Shark Attacks: It has attacked humans,
but is generally not considered aggressive, unless provoked.
- Population Report: Common.
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