leopard shark

Its scientific name is Triakis Semifasciata , although it is better known as the leopard shark, Japanese leopard or leopard tollo. This animal is part of the Triakidae family, and its class is Chondrichthyes .

Where does the leopard shark live?

They are more abundant on the coasts since they like to swim in shallow waters, which, in general, do not usually exceed 4 meters deep. The most significant record of this species is found around the United States and Mexico, due to its attraction to the cold continents and the temperate northeast Pacific Ocean.

They tend to gather in areas where the mud and sand of the bays accumulate, as well as in the reefs full of rocks, which responds to the fact that they have been seen at the waste discharge points of nuclear and chemical plants.

And, although some groups make long journeys, attributed to drastic changes in climate, most leopard sharks stay in the same areas for long periods of their lives.

Leopard Shark Characteristics

The most striking of these sharks are their round and dark spots , which vary in color according to the sex and age of the specimen, and to which the name leopard is attributed, since they resemble the fur of said feline. They can be seen all over the back and both sides of its trunk.

As for the skin, this is within the contrasts between dark gray, black and green, and it works as a perfect camouflage between the rocks, where they usually hide to hunt. They can reach up to 1.8 meters in length, with a maximum weight of approximately 18 kilograms.

The shape of its head is somewhat flattened and rectangular in shape, with a wide but short and round snout. They have a well-developed sense of smell and sight, and they have special organs (ampullae of Lorenzini) with which they pick up low-frequency waves and maintain their orientation, regardless of the degree of turbulence.

What do leopard sharks eat?

It tends to eat small species, where shellfish, smaller fish and their eggs, shark pups, sea worms, squid, algae, among others, stand out. What is interesting is the way in which it feeds, since it first uses its camouflage to distract the victim, then it approaches it and slowly sucks it , culminating in biting and swallowing it.

Do leopard sharks eat people?

Leopard sharks are not interested in humans , in fact there is no record indicating the death, or attack, of a person at the hands of this animal. The only true antecedent was that of a harassment of a diver whose nose was injured, for which he was bleeding and leaving a mark in the water, thus drawing attention to the fish.

Reproduction of leopard sharks

It is an ovoviviparous fish, which means that it reproduces through eggs , which are hatched inside the female, precisely in a yolk sac where the embryos develop and are born.

After the sac breaks, the small sharks go out into the waters, staying in shallow areas, from where they can be seen and sheltered. It is important to point out that the number of offspring per clutch can range from 4 to 29.

leopard shark life expectancy

The average lifespan of leopard sharks is between 30 years. However, it has been in decline, due to the high contamination of the sea coasts, where these animals usually live.

Is the leopard shark in danger of extinction?

They are not yet endangered , they are classified as low alert by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, their hunting is being increased and their reproduction is considered slow.

Leopard Shark Conservation

In nations such as Mexico and the United States, laws have been created that regulate the fishing of this type of shark, allowing the hunting only of those that exceed a certain size, with the aim of allowing the growth and reproduction of those that have not yet have reached adulthood.

Curiosities of the leopard shark

• The way of ingesting its prey is similar to giving a romantic kiss, since it slowly approaches them, touching them with its snout to slowly suck them up.
• He does not like to chase his victims, if they run away he simply looks for another potential food.
• Their fallen teeth are quickly replaced by new ones, and it is estimated that in 10 years they produce up to 24 thousand teeth.
• They have an organ that indicates the direction in which they should go or where their prey is, and the most incredible thing is that it works regardless of whether there is a lot of sea current or turbulence.