Lemon shark – Negaprion brevirostris

Lemon shark, Lemon Shark, Negaprion brevirostris
Size: 340 cm
Depth: 0 - 92 m

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermudas, Bonaire, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, Senegal, Sint Eustatius, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Virgin Islands

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean

The Lemon Shark, scientifically known as Negaprion brevirostris, is a species of requiem shark found in warm, coastal waters around the world.

Description & Characteristics

Lemon Sharks are characterized by their distinctive yellowish-grey coloration, which gives them their common name. They are a medium-sized shark, reaching a maximum size of 340.0 cm. They are easily recognizable by their broad, flattened head, short snout, and prominent dorsal fins. Their bodies are robust and streamlined, adapted for efficient swimming. They have a relatively short, broad snout, which is slightly rounded and wider than the rest of their head. Their mouths are large, with rows of sharp, pointed teeth designed for capturing and tearing prey. They have a pair of prominent dorsal fins, with the first dorsal fin being significantly larger than the second. They also have a pair of pectoral fins, two pelvic fins, and a pair of anal fins. Their tails are powerful and well-developed, providing them with the necessary thrust for quick bursts of speed.

Habitat and Occurrence

Lemon Sharks are predominantly found in shallow coastal waters, typically in reef-associated habitats. They are commonly observed in bays, lagoons, and estuaries, where they can exploit diverse food sources. Their depth range spans from the surface to a maximum of 92.0 meters, making them a prominent presence in the subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the oceans. They are commonly found in neritic zones, which encompass the coastal waters from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. This diverse habitat range allows them to thrive in a variety of environments, contributing to their successful distribution.

Taxonomy

The species Negaprion brevirostris belongs to the Class: Elasmobranchii, Order: Carcharhiniformes, and Family: Carcharhinidae. This classification places them within a large group of sharks known for their distinct features and diverse adaptations.

Feeding

Lemon Sharks are opportunistic predators with a varied diet, consuming a wide range of prey items. Their diet typically consists of:

  • Big fish
  • Edible crabs
  • Lobster
  • Sepia
  • Small sharks

This diverse feeding strategy allows them to thrive in their varied habitats and exploit a wide range of food sources available to them.

Associated Species

Image References

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