lemon shark lemon shark lemon shark species requiem shark belonging family widely distributed tropical waters closely related better known lemon shark americas species identical appearance stout bodied sharks broad heads dorsal fins nearly equal size plain yellow tinged coloration common suggests lemon shark differs american counterpart having shaped fins large species grows long generally inhabits water deep variety habitats coral reefs slow moving predator feeding mainly bony fishes lemon shark seldom travels long distances individuals found year round certain locations like members family species viviparous females giving birth pups year following gestation period months potentially dangerous humans known respond vigorously normal circumstances lemon sharks cautious tend retreat approached iucn assessed species vulnerable low reproductive productivity rate movement limits capacity depleted stocks recover india southeast_asia species severely depleted exploitation meat fins liver oil taxonomy phylogeny lemon shark described german naturalist des fishes red sea australian moved species newly formed genus type specimen designated long individual caught red_sea saudi_arabia specific epithet derived latin meaning sharp meaning teeth lemon shark referred shark indian lemon shark lemon shark simply lemon shark based dna evidence lemon shark thought diverged sister species million years ago closure separated lemon sharks indian_ocean atlantic ancestral lemon shark species teeth occur united_states pakistan morphological molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest grouped reef shark shark occupying intermediate position evolutionary tree basal genera derived distribution habitat range lemon shark extends south_africa red_sea including mauritius madagascar continuing eastward coast indian southeast_asia extending far north taiwan philippines far south new_guinea northern australia species found numerous pacific islands including fiji french species likely central pacific island significant levels genetic lemon sharks australia french apart suggest little occurs regional coastal continental shelves lemon shark occurs zone depth species favors waters common bays sandy flats outer reefs individual venture open water filmed documentary white death vicinity sperm whale juvenile lemon sharks found reef flats water shallow dorsal fins exposed western_australia known nursery juvenile lemon sharks frequent open areas water deep areas covered description lemon shark robust body short broad head snout rounded wedge shaped small nostrils bearing triangular flaps skin eyes small short furrows present corners mouth thirteen usually tooth rows occur jaws including tiny teeth jaw upper teeth large rising broad base notch teeth increasingly angled corners mouth lower teeth resemble upper teeth narrower erect teeth sharks long finely fins especially dorsal pectoral lemon shark shaped similar american lemon shark dorsal fin positioned closer pelvic pectoral fins second dorsal fin nearly equal size located slightly forward anal fin ridge seen dorsal fins pectoral fins long broad originating space fourth gill slits anal fin strong notch rear margin pit cavity forward caudal fin oriented large dermal denticles overlapping bear horizontal ridges coloration plain yellowish brown gray lighter yellow fins species maximum known length typically exceed biology ecology sluggish species lemon shark usually seen cruising sea lying unlike requiem sharks capable actively pumping water gills approach surface pursuit food shark seldom long distance movements study found tagged sharks later recaptured initial location study found local sharks year round residents island visited occasionally lemon shark diet consists shore dwelling including herring sea occasionally cephalopods crustaceans older individuals known consume species preyed larger sharks known parasites include lemon sharks documented resting cleaner open mouths stop long seconds access mouths gills members family lemon shark viviparous developing embryos sustained connection formed depleted yolk females birth usually pups year shallow nursery areas following gestation period months unlike american lemon shark evidence indicates species returns site birth reproduce occurs october november madagascar january french mating females takes place time embryos develop months gestation possess external gills young born length juvenile sharks grow slowly rate year sexes attain sexual maturity length human interactions apparently attacks humans attributed lemon shark formidable size teeth regarded potentially dangerous certainly species known defend quickly vigorously touched provoked alarmed agitated shark persistent adversary case shark forced swimmer seek refuge atop coral head hours giving observations divers normally shark shy hesitant approach presented bait shark away enters visual range young sharks reportedly aggressive adults lemon sharks main attraction daily shark feeding shark captivity displayed public iucn assessed lemon shark globally vulnerable harvested anchored floating beach nets meat sold fresh dried human consumption fins shark fin soup liver oil processed lemon shark highly susceptible local slow reproductive rate limited movements southeast_asia shark scarce pressure expanding fisheries assessed endangered iucn widespread habitat degradation including pollution blast fishing coral reefs poses additional threat survival species region lemon shark parts india thailand reported indonesian markets recent years despite historically abundant australia lemon shark taken small numbers intentionally listed concern
Sicklefin lemon shark