Creature Feature – Leopard Shark
This week is the letter ‘L’, and today’s featured creature is the Leopard Shark.
Leopard sharks are a species of houndshark (ground sharks) famous for their unique pattern of black saddle-like markings and large spots.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Triakis semifasciata
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Triakidae
Genus: Triakis
Leopard Shark Fact File
Size: Individuals can reach a maximum length of 1.8m and weigh up to 18.4kg
Distribution: This species can be found along the Pacific coast of North America, from Oregon to the Gulf of California in Mexico. The leopard shark is most commonly found in sandy or muddy bays and estuaries either at or near the bottom
Diet: They feed on a variety of invertebrates, including crabs, small fish, and squid
Behaviour: Females are ovoviviparous (ovoviviparous animals produce eggs, but instead of laying the eggs, the eggs develop within the mother’s body and are birthed live) and can produce litters of 4 to 29 pups
IUCN Status: Least Concern. However, due to the relatively late age of first reproduction, the slow growth rate, and the low reproduction rate, the species is potentially threatened by overfishing. Loss and alteration of habitat, especially in coastal bays and estuaries, is also a concern for this species
