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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
leopard shark |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Chondrichthyes |
| ORDER: |
Carcharhiniformes |
| FAMILY: |
Triakidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Triakis semifasciata |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
One of the most distinguishing features of this
species is the bold dark bars draped across the
dorsal surface. Additional dark spots are found
along the lateral surfaces of the species. In adult
specimens, the pectoral fins are broadly triangular.
The anterior edge of the first dorsal fin appears
behind the pectoral fins posterior edge. The caudal
fin is elongate, and lacks a lower lobe altogether.
This species is an active, strong swimming shark,
often observed moving with an undulating motion.
They are known to form large schools, occasionally
aggregating with gray or brown smooth-hound sharks
(Mustelus californicus and M. henlei)
and piked dogfish (Squalus acanthias). |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| SIZE: |
text |
| MALE |
150 cm (4.9 ft) max |
| FEMALE |
180 cm (5.9 ft) max |
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| WEIGHT: |
19 kg (41.9 lbs) max |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| DIET: |
The leopard shark is an opportunistic feeder, primarily
preying upon benthic organisms along with the occasional
littoral prey item. Invertebrates tend to dominate
its diet. Diet includes crabs, shrimp, clams, octopus,
bony fish (i.e. anchovies, herring), and cartilaginous
fish (i.e. brown smooth-hound sharks [Mustelus
henlei], guitarfish [Rhinobatos productus]
and bat rays [Myliobatis californicus]).
Additionally, the fry of various fish species (i.e.
herring, topsmelt, jacksmelt, and midshipmen) are
avidly consumed by the leopard shark. |
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| GESTATION: |
Species is ovoviviparous, without a yolk-sac placenta. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
4-29
young |
| PLANKTONIC
DURATION |
text |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Species is relatively slow growing - possibly requiring
over a decade to reach maturity. |
| MALE |
70-119
cm |
| FEMALE |
110-129
cm |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Species has lived for 20+ years in zoological settings
|
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| RANGE: |
Eastern North Pacific: Oregon to Gulf of California
and Mexico |
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| HABITAT: |
An abundant, temperate-water shark found in inshore
and offshore continental littoral waters. Species
is most common on or near the bottom from the intertidal
zone to 4 meters in depth. Accordingly, the leopard
shark is typically found in shallow enclosed muddy
bays - usually entering as the tide rises and departing
as the tide retreats. The species favors sand flats,
mud flats, and rocky bottom areas near reef sites
and kelp beds. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
text |
| LOCAL |
In certain Californian waters, increased pressure
by spar and line-fishers may be leading to a decline
in this species numbers. |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
text |
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| 1. |
This
smallish shark species is generally considered non-threatening
to humans; however, in 1955 an unprovoked attack
on a diver in Trinidad Bay, California was recorded.
The diver was not seriously injured. |
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| 2. |
Within a hollow bridge support structure located
in San Francisco Bay, leopard sharks and piked dogfish
have been observed engaging in a unique feeding
strategy. The two sharks species will swim at the
surface, with mouths open, in a counter-clockwise
direction. At the same time densely packed schools
of anchovies are gathered at the surface and will
swim in a clockwise direction. While the sharks
do not exhibit any specific hunting behavior or
directed movements toward the oncoming anchovies,
the sharks' posture and movement does result in
ingestion of incidental prey (i.e. anchovies) which
inadvertently swim into the open maw of the prowling
sharks. |
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| 3. |
text |
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| 4. |
text |
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| 5. |
text |
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| 6. |
text |
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Within California waters, the leopard shark is commonly
targeted by sports anglers and spear-fishing enthusiasts.
In recent years, additional pressures have been
placed on the species due to increasing interest
by small-scale commercial line fisheries. This species
is utilized fresh or fresh-frozen for human consumption.
This
shark species is very successful in zoological
settings - where, not unexpectedly, it exhibits
a strong tendency to stay in the benthic portions
of an exhibit (although individual sharks will
occasionally swim at midwater or at the surface).
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| Allen,
Thomas B., The Shark Almanac. The Lyons Press,
1999. |
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Compagno, Leonard J.V., FAO Species Catalog,
Vol. 4 Sharks of the World. United Nations Development
Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, Rome, 1984. |
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www.fishbase.org
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| text |
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