Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) fish species and Lemon shark information

Scientific Name
Negaprion brevirostris

Common Name
Lemon shark

Biology
Occurs on continental and insular shelves, frequenting mangrove fringes, coral keys, docks, sand or coral mud bottoms, saline creeks, enclosed bays or sounds, and river mouths. May enter fresh water. Occasionally moves into the open ocean, near or at the surface, apparently for purposes of migration. May rest motionless on the bottom (Ref. 9710). May occur singly or in small groups. Feeds mainly on fish but also takes crustaceans and mollusks. Viviparous, with 4 to 17 young in a litter. Size at birth 60 to 65 cm. Has been involved in several attacks on people. Meat is utilized for human consumption, hides for leather, fins for shark-fin soup base, liver oil for vitamins, and carcasses for fish meal. Marketed fresh, dried-salted and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By

Poey, 1868

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean; also in Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 26938). Northeast Atlantic: Senegal, C?te d'Ivoire and probably wide-ranging off West Africa, but this requires confirmation. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and the Gulf of California to Ecuador.

Range

45°N - 39°S, 114°W - 0°

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

92 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 92 m (Ref. 244)

Trophic Level

4.37 s.e. 0.78 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

340 cm

Common Length

240 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (87 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.54(?); tm=12.7; tmax=25; Fec = 4-17; rmax = 0.012)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 244)

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) fish species and information / pictures of Lemon shark - Negaprion brevirostris

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population