Lemon sharks are large, yellowish sharks found in warm coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Typically inhabiting shallow areas like estuaries and coral reefs, these sharks are social and non-aggressive towards humans. Their diet consists of fish, rays, and crustaceans. They give birth to live young, with litters of 4-17 pups. While not endangered, they face threats from overfishing and habitat loss because they are often found inshore, and conservation efforts aim to protect their habitats and regulate fishing.
Lemon Sharks At-A-Glance
Scientific Name – Negaprion brevirostris
How big do lemon sharks get? At full size, these sharks can be as big as 8-12 feet long (2.4-3.6 m) and up to 551 pounds (250 kg)
Where do lemon sharks live? You can find these sharks in tropical, coastal waters in the Atlantic and east Pacific ocean. These sharks prefer coral reefs, mangroves, river mouths, enclosed bays, and sounds.
What do lemon sharks eat? These sharks have an extremely varied diet, and they mostly eat bony fishes and crustaceans. They also eat mollusks, rays, small sharks, and sometimes sea birds.
How do they give birth? These sharks reach sexual maturity around 12-16 years of age. They are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live shark pups rather than laying eggs. They typically mate in shallow water during the spring and summer months. The shark embryos take approximately 10-12 months to develop fully before they are born, and litters can have between 4-17 pups. These sharks prefer to give birth in mangrove habitats and similar to turtles, they will return to the nursery they were born at to give birth to their young.
How long do lemon sharks live? These sharks live to about 27 years old.
Are lemon sharks endangered? These sharks are currently categorized as “vulnerable” by the IUCN, meaning they are at risk, but currently not endangered.
Are lemon sharks protected? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission prohibits any commercial or recreational harvest of these sharks in Florida state waters. Unfortunately, however, they can still be caught inside federal waters and are frequently targeted by longline fisheries. They are not protected by any international laws.
Bet You Didn’t Know…
- Lemon sharks are extremely social! They make preferential social connections with other lemon sharks; just like humans, they form bonds and friendships with other sharks in their community.
- Juveniles are extremely flexible! They could even bend to the side to bite their own tail if they choose to.
- Why do they call it a lemon shark? These sharks are named after lemons. They are extremely yellow when they are first born; as they grow older, however, their skin turns into a more gray/brown color however it still maintains a yellow tint.
- They have relatively poor eyesight, but they have special retinas to reduce glare in their vision and enhance vision in the yellow-green spectrum.
- They tolerate enclosed spaces; this is what makes them a popular choice to have in aquariums. Although lemon sharks are best in the wild, this makes it easier to study the species and push for in-depth research and conservation efforts.
Are lemon sharks safe to swim with?
This shark species are not harmful to humans and are safe to encounter underwater. They often circle divers harmlessly for great interactions – and photos!
Ready to Dive in?
You can swim, snorkel or dive with lemon sharks in:
- Jupiter, Florida – December through March; best time for viewing is usually in January
- Beqa Lagoon, Fiji – October through February
- Bimini, Bahamas – December through March
- The Galapagos Islands – June through November
- The Maldives – January through April
Science In The Spotlight
Do sharks have friends? Lemon sharks do! A recent scientific study examines the short- and long-term consistencies in the social behavior of juvenile lemon sharks by J. S. Finger et al., 2017.
Ever wonder if sharks are smart? This fascinating study indicates sharks have unique personalities, social structures and behaviors.
After Bites Lemon Shark Quiz
Take the shark trivia quiz and test your new found knowledge.
Written by Greer Jessie, BS Undergraduate Student, University of Florida