Negaprion brevirostris
Lemon Shark [+]

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Negaprion
species: brevirostris
+ITIS +WoRMS

Description & Behavior

The lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris (Poey, 1868), is named for its pale yellow to brown coloring on the dorsal side and lighter yellow on the ventral side. The body of the lemon shark is large and robust and commonly reaches lengths between 2.4-3 m with a maximum of 3.2-3.5 m. The growth rate of the lemon shark is 0.54 cm per year.

This species has 2 dorsal fins of similar size; the first is positioned far back on the body behind the pectoral fins, the second dorsal is located slightly forward of the origin of the anal fin. There is no interdorsal ridge. The pelvic fin has slightly concave rear margins and the outer margin of the pectoral fin is slightly convex. Both pelvic and pectoral fins are slightly curved (falcate). This shark has a blunt, short snout.

World Range & Habitat

The lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, inhabits coastal inshore northeast Atlantic waters from New Jersey in the US to Southern Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. It is thought that the latter 2 regions are 2 separate populations. The lemon shark can be found along the coasts of Senegal and Ivory Coast and in the eastern Atlantic. In the North Pacific the lemon shark ranges from the Gulf of California and Baja California south to Ecuador.

The lemon shark is commonly found in subtropical shallow water to depths of about 92 m near coral reefs, mangroves, enclosed bays, sounds and river mouths, although the lemon shark does not travel far into fresh water. They can be found in open water during migration, but overall they tend to stay along the continental and insular shelves. This species is known to form groups based on size and sex and have been observed in groups near docks and fishing piers at night, returning to deeper water during the day.

» GBIF occurrence data in Google Earth [Tips] | Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) (World Distribution) [about]

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

The lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, feeds on bony fish including: catfish, mullet, jacks, croakers, porcupine fish, and cowfish; as well as guitarfish, stingrays, eagle rays, crabs, and crayfish. On occasion the lemon shark will also eat sea birds and smaller sharks.

Life History

The lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, is placentally viviparous, meaning females form a placenta-like connection with each of the developing fetuses and eventually give birth to live free-swimming pups. Females and males reach sexual maturity at 6-7 years of age or at 2.4 m and 2.24 m respectively. Mating takes place in the springtime in shallow water followed by a 10-12 month gestation period. Females return to shallow nursing grounds between April-September to give birth to 4-17 pups that measure between 60-65 cm. Pups remain in the nursing grounds for several years, their range expanding as they grow.

Conservation Status/Additional Comments

The lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, is hunted both commercially and recreationally. US longline fisheries target lemon sharks species and they are also caught as by-catch in pelagic and gillnet fisheries. Their fins are sold for shark fin soup, and their skin is sold for leather. Lemon sharks are also sold for their meat. Populations in the western north Atlantic and eastern Pacific Ocean are declining due to overfishing.

Lemon sharks are potentially dangerous to humans, however the International Shark Attack File has only reported 10 unprovoked bites by lemon sharks, all of which occurred in Florida and the Caribbean. None of the bites was fatal. Lemon sharks do well in captivity. Experiments on lemon sharks have shown they learn as quickly as some mammals and remember for at least 6 months without reinforcement.

Negaprion brevirostris is listed as Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:

LOWER RISK (LR) - A taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated, does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Taxa included in the Lower Risk category can be separated into three subcategories:

1. Conservation Dependent (cd). Taxa which are the focus of a continuing taxon-specific or habitat-specific conservation programme targeted towards the taxon in question, the cessation of which would result in the taxon qualifying for one of the threatened categories above within a period of five years.
2. Near Threatened (nt). Taxa which do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but which are close to qualifying for Vulnerable.
3. Least Concern (lc). Taxa which do not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened.

Visit Shark Angels Website