The lemon shark gets its name from its slightly yellow color. However, be aware that colors can be deceiving underwater ! Remember that in scuba diving, water absorbs colors and starting at 50 feet, yellow begins to turn green and disappears completely by 100 feet.
The lemon shark can reach up to 11 feet in length and weigh as much as 405 pounds. One of its distinguishing features is its two dorsal fins which are roughly the same size.
Geographic range
The lemon shark is found in the subtropical coastal waters of the western and eastern Atlantic ocean, as well as the eastern Pacific ocean.
In the Atlantic ocean, its range extends from the eastern coast of the United States to the coast of Brazil, including Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. In the eastern Atlantic ocean, it is primarily found along the western coast of Africa, including Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Additionally, the lemon shark is present in the eastern Pacific ocean along the coasts of California and Mexico as well as in many Polynesian islands.
Habitat
The lemon shark inhabits waters from the surface down to 295 feet along coasts and coral reefs.
Diet
The lemon shark primarily feeds on a variety of fish but also consumes crustaceans and mollusks.
Le requin citron a la particularité de disposer de 2 nageoires dorsales sensiblement de la même taille !
The lemon shark frequents coastal waters and coral reefs.
Reproduction
Lemon sharks are viviparous. When females give birth, the pups, numbering between 4 and 17, are already about 24 inches long.
Did you know ?
The oldest lemon shark ever recorded was 25 years old !
A close-up of a lemon shark revealing its particularly formidable dentition during the photo shoot !
The lemon shark is present in French Polynesia which declared the species protected in April 2006.
The lemon shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The lemon shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2021 within the category Vulnerable !
Within the same family
Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
Discover also
Hammerhead sharks
Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)
Ornate wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus)
Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Raja epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti)
Short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Zebra bullhead shark (Heterodontus zebra)
Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Atlantic bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus)
Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
Bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Queen parrotfish (Scarus vetula)
Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus)
Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus)
Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus)
Dive centers
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa dive center
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