Crescent Lemon Shark
| Crescent Lemon Shark | ||||||||||||
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Crescent fin lemon shark surrounded by Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish ( Chaetodon ulietensis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Negaprion acutidens | ||||||||||||
| ( Rüppell , 1837) |
The sickle-fin lemon shark ( Negaprion acutidens ) belongs to the family of Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae).
anatomy
It reaches a length of up to 3 m and is a strong shark with a yellowish-brown color. Its second dorsal fin is almost the same size as the first, with the attachment of the first at the level of the pectoral fins . Its dorsal, pectoral and ventral fins are clearly crescent-shaped, which is where its name comes from. The snout is shorter than it is wide.
distribution
The distribution area of this species is in the western Pacific
- Indonesia ,
- New Guinea ,
- Australia ,
- Philippines ,
- Tahiti
and in the Indian Ocean
- South Africa ,
- Mauritius ,
- India ,
- Thailand .
It can also be found in the Red Sea . It occurs near the shore to a depth of 30 m, preferring bays and flat regions.
Reproduction
This shark is viviparous with 1–11 offspring, with the animals becoming sexually mature at a length of approx. 2.2 m.
food
It usually swims very slowly and eats almost exclusively fish . Lemon sharks are nocturnal and are in the resting phase during the day. Since this type of shark is easily irritable, you should avoid disturbances and provocations for your own safety. Otherwise attacks can occur suddenly.
Web links
- Crescent Lemon Shark on Fishbase.org (English)
- Sickle fin lemon shark in the hai.ch database
- Negaprion acutidens inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Posted by: Pillans, R. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003), 2003. Retrieved September 30, 2013.