Lemon Shark

About the Lemon Shark

Lemon Sharks are named for their yellow-brown pigmentation, which helps them blend into the sandy habitats they live in. They are often found in shallow waters, from the surface to depths of 92 m (302 ft), near bays, coral reefs, mangrove fringes and sometimes river mouths.

They are common in the Atlantic Ocean from Virginia in the United States to southern Brazil, including in the Caribbean Sea. They are also found along the eastern Atlantic coast, from Mauritania to Angola, and in the eastern Pacific, from Baja California to Ecuador.

Biology and Behaviour

A fully grown lemon shark reaches at least 3.4 m (11.2 ft) from head to tail and can weigh 190 kg (420 lb), although they are commonly between 2.4 m (7.9 ft) and 3.1 m (10.2 ft) long. Like other sharks, lemon sharks have electroreceptors called the ampullae of Lorenzini. These small organs allow them to detect electrical signals produced by living organisms and help them locate prey. Lemon sharks also have an excellent sense of smell, which makes up for their poor vision.

They are nocturnal feeders that prey on fish and sometimes crustaceans, molluscs and smaller sharks. They are social sharks that form groups which can enhance communication, courtship and predatory behaviour, while also providing protection.

Lemon sharks have a flattened head with a short, broad snout and their second dorsal fin is almost as large as their first. Young lemon sharks are more closely associated with their nursery habitats, while adults migrate farther and deeper in the water during the winter.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Lemon sharks are viviparous, meaning that females give birth to live young and embryos are nourished through placentas. Females can have multiple partners at the same time and reproduce annually. Mating occurs in spring and summer, and females have a gestation period of 10 to 12 months. Female lemon sharks give birth to between 4 and 17 pups, which are about 60 cm to 65 cm (23.6–25.6 in) long at birth. Lemon sharks often return to the nursery areas where they were born to give birth themselves.

Males mature at around 2.24 m (7.3 ft), while females mature at 2.39 m (7.8 ft). Lemon sharks generally reach sexual maturity between 11 and 13 years of age and can live for at least 20 years.

Conservation and Tourism

Lemon sharks are caught commercially as both target species and bycatch in longline and gillnet fisheries. They are caught for their meat, fins, skin, liver oil and sometimes for recreational purposes. They are also popular aquarium species and are used as model animals in scientific research.

The IUCN lists lemon sharks as Vulnerable, and their population is decreasing. Conservation measures differ between countries. In the United States, the species was included in the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Federal Management Plan in 2006, which includes measures such as quotas and seasonal closures. Lemon shark harvest is also prohibited in Florida state waters.

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Lemon Shark Gallery