The lemon shark is found mainly along the subtropical and tropical parts of the Atlantic coast of North and South America. The longest lemon shark recorded was 12 ft long, but they are usually 8 to 10 ft (3.0 m). They like tropical water and like to stay at moderate depths. The lemon shark is one of the many types of sharks in the ocean. These sharks are one of 277 currently identified species, but they are well know because they survive well in captivity.

 

Lemon sharks have rounded bodies and can grow 2-3 feet and some can grow to 10 feet! Many of these sharks are a grayish or brownish color when seen from above and a paler or whitish color underneath. Some Lemon sharks also have spots stripes or seemingly random coloration. This helps the shark blend in or camouflage with its environment. These sharks’ eyes have a nictitating membrane, or lower eyelids which are closed, able to some degree.

 

Sharks swim (cruise) at an average speed of 8km/h (5mph), but when feeding or attacking the average shark can reach speed upward of 19km/h(12mph). The preys of this shark are fish, squid, sea snakes, and other sharks. Nine more species of sharks are to be added to the endangered list as scientist warned that oceans are being emptied of the fish by overfishing and by finning. Sharks are definitely at the top of the list for marine fishes that could go extinction.

 

Author: Patrician D

Published: 04/2009

 

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negaprion_brevirostris

 

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikilemon_Nbrevirostris1_TerryGoss.jpg