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Leopard shark in kelp🦈

Photo: Mfield, Matthew Field, www.photography.mattfie… · CC BY-SA 3.0

SpeciesCarcharhiniformesTriakidae
Sharks & rays

🦈Leopard shark

Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855

The leopard shark is a species of houndshark, in the family Triakidae. It is found along the Pacific coast of North America, from the U.S. state of Oregon to Mazatlán in Mexico. Typically measuring 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long, this slender-bodied shark is immediately identifiable by the striking pattern of black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back, from which it derives its common name. Large schools of leopard sharks are a common sight in bays and estuaries, swimming over sandy or muddy flats or rock-strewn areas near kelp beds and reefs. They are most common near the coast, in water less than 4 m (13 ft) deep.

Text: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Photos
1
Measurements
8
vs you
≈ 1/6th of your weight
Also called
Leopard houndshark
Conservation status
LCLeast concern

IUCN Red List assessment, 2015.

Population trendUnknown
Key measurements
Body mass
10 kg
Body length
1.6 m
Shoulder height
not recorded
Top speed
not recorded
Bite force
not recorded
Maximum lifespan
30 years
All measurements ↓
Facts and figures

Everything we know about the Leopard shark

Typical adult figures. Where a value is an estimate rather than a measurement, it says so.

Body mass
10 kgrecord 18 kg · FishBase
AnAge
Details ↓

data quality: acceptable

Record: largest individual on record

Source: AnAge · AnAge build 15, 2023-07-03 (HAGR) · CC BY 3.0

Body length
1.6 mrecord 1.98 m · FishBasetypical adult
FishBase
Other figures ↓

Record: largest individual on record

Source: FishBase · v25.04 · CC BY-NC 4.0

By sex

  • Female1.8 mFishBasev25.04
Maximum lifespan
30 yearsrecord 30 years · FishBase
AnAge
Details ↓

data quality: acceptable

Record: largest individual on record

Source: AnAge · AnAge build 15, 2023-07-03 (HAGR) · CC BY 3.0

Litter size
about 15
AnAge
Details ↓

data quality: acceptable

Source: AnAge · AnAge build 15, 2023-07-03 (HAGR) · CC BY 3.0

Trophic level
3.67
FishBase
Details ↓

Source: FishBase · v25.04, estimate table · CC BY-NC 4.0

Diet
carnivoreaverage
Details ↓

From trophic level 3.67 (FishBase): <2.2 herbivore, 2.2–2.8 omnivore, >2.8 carnivore.

Danger to humans
harmless
FishBase
Details ↓

Source: FishBase · v25.04 · CC BY-NC 4.0

Volume l
10 Laverage
Details ↓

Body mass at ~1.0 kg/L, the density of vertebrate tissue.

average = a mean across sexes or species in a group.

Not recorded for Leopard shark yet: shoulder height, top speed, bite force.

More

More about the Leopard shark

In other languages
Leopardenhai (de), Triakis semifasciata (es), Pars köpek balığı (tr), Калифорнийская тройнозубая акула (ru), Triakis semifasciata (fr), tauró lleopard (ca) … and 20 more languages
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