Lemon Shark Size report
In recent years, more and more people have been interested in lemon sharks. The lemon shark, known as Negaprion brevirostris in the scientific community, is just one of the over 1,000 species of shark you can find across the globe.
Poey first described the short-nosed lemon shark in 1868 and named it Hypoprion brevirostris, later renamed Negaprion brevirostris. Also known as the lemon shark, it gets its name from its yellowish-brown skin color. In addition to having the shark's unusual skin color, they can be identified by a short, blunt snout and two similarly sized triangular fins on the back, behind the pectoral fins.
Lemon sharks typically inhabit subtropical waters at a depth of 90 meters (300 feet). They usually swim in shallow reef areas, sandy lagoons, mangroves, swamp areas, etc.; they are generally active on the surface of the water, with their dorsal fin out of the water, swimming slowly, and it will reach the bottom of water when resting. Let's learn more about this large marine life.
Lemon Shark Size and Characteristics
The lemon shark has an elongated body and a thick trunk with yellow-brown color. It is named for its lemon-like color and is a medium-sized shark. The lemon shark's yellow skin color provides perfect camouflage against sandy in-shore areas where it often forages for food. Their head is very flat, and their snout is slightly shorter. The fins are weakly sickle-shaped, with two dorsal fins; the pectoral fins are broad and sickle-shaped; the caudal fins are wide and long.
Average Size of Lenmon Shark
- They get their name from their distinctive yellow color and are larger than other species.
- Newborn lemon sharks are about 60-65 cm in length.
- Lemon sharks average 7.5 to 11 feet (2.3-3.4 m) as long as adults. The largest lemon shark recorded was around 12.1 feet (3.7 m) long.
- Lemon sharks can weigh up to 420-550 pounds (190-250 kg) and live up to 25-30 years.
Quick Facts | |
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Born Size | 60-65 cm |
Average Length | 2.3-3.4 m (7.5-11 ft) |
Longest Record | 3.7 m (12.1 ft) |
Average Weight | 190-250 kg (420-550 lbs) |
Lifespan | 25-30 years |
Living Habits
Lemon sharks are active both day and night. Lemon sharks mainly inhabit offshore waters in the United States, Brazil, America, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and other parts of the Atlantic Ocean. They can be found in warm, shallow waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, preferring to stay near coral reefs, mangroves, and bays; preying primarily on teleosts, other sharks, or rays. They are also part of the 1% of cannibalism fish. Large adult lemon sharks are known to eat smaller lemon sharks or juveniles.
They tend to live alone but form small groups from time to time. Lemon sharks prefer a defined social range and may gather in groups of up to 20 individuals, feeding together at dawn and dusk. During the day, lemon sharks swim slowly on the seabed, waiting for small fish to clear their bodies of parasites; this behavior consumes more energy than swimming because the shark must constantly pump water up its gills to breathe.
Lifespan And Reproduction
The lemon shark is viviparous; embryos develop inside the mother for up to 12 months until the female seeks shelter in a shallow nursery during spring or summer to give birth. A litter of lemon sharks may be as large as 17 pups. Pups remain in the nursery for several years, sheltered from larger predators, and feed on nutrients from nearby mangroves. Lemon sharks reach sexual maturity at around six and may live for up to 25 years.
Danger to Humans
Given their penchant for subtropical shallow waters, they are often close to swimmers, surfers, and divers. But lemon sharks pose little threat to humans. According to the International Shark Attack File, there are only ten unprovoked attacks by lemon sharks, all in Florida and the Caribbean, and none have been fatal. Contrary to the menacing expression given by the lemon shark's protruding, curved teeth, these animals are quite gentle to humans. Always remember that lemon sharks are predators at the top of the ocean's food chain and will still attack when startled or threatened.
Current Status
The lemon shark is targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range and is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. The whole body of the short-nose lemon shark is considered commercial value by humans and is a large game fish species; it is consumed for meat in Central and South America and the United States. Humans are not on their dinner menus, but in some regions, they are on ours. Lemon sharks are hunted commercially and recreationally, their fins are prized for making shark fin soup, and their hides are also used as leather.