Sealife guideThe lemon sharkNegaprion brevirostris

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.
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
Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Bull shark
(Carcharhinus leucas)
Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)
Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Oceanic whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
Dusky shark
(Carcharhinus obscurus)
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
Explore also
Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
Great hammerhead shark
(Sphyrna mokarran)
Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Whale shark
(Rhincodon typus)
Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci)
Horn shark
(Heterodontus francisci)
Zebra bullhead shark (Heterodontus zebra)
Zebra bullhead shark
(Heterodontus zebra)
Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Pyjama shark
(Poroderma africanum)
Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
Sand tiger shark
(Carcharias taurus)
Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
Zebra shark
(Stegostoma fasciatum)
Coral catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus)
Coral catshark
(Atelomycterus marmoratus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Bandtail puffer (Sphoeroides spengleri)
Bandtail puffer
(Sphoeroides spengleri)
Blue striped grunt (Haemulon sciurus)
Blue striped grunt
(Haemulon sciurus)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Flamingo tongue (Cyphoma gibbosum)
Flamingo tongue
(Cyphoma gibbosum)
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Great barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
Labyrinthine brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis)
Labyrinthine brain coral
(Diploria labyrinthiformis)
Longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus)
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(Diodon holocanthus)
Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
Stoplight parrotfish
(Sparisoma viride)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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