Sealife guideThe lemon sharkNegaprion brevirostris

Last updated on 02/12/2025 at 11:05 PM
Taxonomy
Description
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 is distinctive for having two dorsal fins that are roughly the same size !
The lemon shark is distinctive for having two dorsal fins that are roughly the same size ! ©  | Dreamstime.com
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.
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 !
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)
Blue shark
(Prionace glauca)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
Dusky shark
(Carcharhinus obscurus)
Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Galapagos shark
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Oceanic whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
Discover also
Hammerhead shark (9 espèces)
Hammerhead shark
(9 espèces)
Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Port Jackson shark
(Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Puffadder shyshark
(Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Raja epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti)
Raja epaulette shark
(Hemiscyllium freycineti)
Short fin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Short fin mako
(Isurus oxyrinchus)
Tasselled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)
Tasselled wobbegong
(Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)
Tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)
Tawny nurse shark
(Nebrius ferrugineus)
Zebra bullhead shark (Heterodontus zebra)
Zebra bullhead shark
(Heterodontus zebra)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
Atlantic tarpon
(Megalops atlanticus)
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Great barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
Green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris)
Green moray eel
(Gymnothorax funebris)
Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus)
Longspined porcupinefish
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Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus)
Saucereye porgy
(Calamus calamus)
Spanish slipper lobster (Scyllarides aequinoctialis)
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(Scyllarides aequinoctialis)
Dive centers
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Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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