Lemon sharks
Lemon sharks | ||||||||||||
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Lemon Shark ( Negaprion brevirostris ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Negaprion | ||||||||||||
Whitley , 1940 | ||||||||||||
species | ||||||||||||
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The lemon sharks ( Negaprion ) are up to 3 meters tall, yellowish-brown, powerful sharks whose 2nd dorsal fin, in contrast to most other sharks, is almost the same size as the 1st dorsal fin. The animals have large eyes with a snout that is shorter than the width of the mouth.
species
The genus of lemon sharks includes two species:
- The sickle- fin lemon shark ( Negaprion acutidens ), also known as the Pacific lemon shark , differs from its relatives in its clearly sickle-shaped dorsal fins, pectoral and pelvic fins.
- It lives in the western Pacific (Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia, Philippines, Palau, Marshall Islands, Tahiti) and in the western Indian Ocean (South Africa, Mauritius, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Red Sea) close to the shore, down to a depth of approx. 30 m. This species prefers bays, estuaries and other flat regions. The shark usually swims very slowly and has also been observed resting.
- The lemon shark ( Negaprion brevirostris ), also known as the Atlantic lemon shark , differs from its relative in its white belly.
- He lives in the western and eastern Atlantic. The lemon shark is also found in the eastern Pacific from southern Baja California to Ecuador. It is most frequently observed in the Caribbean region on coasts and can also endure fresh water for a short time. The nocturnal shark was sighted to a depth of 90 m.
Reproduction
Both species are viviparous and have developed from the yolk sac placenta . After a pregnancy of 10-12 months, up to 14 young animals between 50 and 70 cm in size are born.
Both types are considered potentially dangerous to humans.
Others
A piece of music by the Wattenscheid punk band " Die Kassierer " was dedicated to the lemon shark on their CD "Physik".
Web links
Commons : Lemon Sharks - Collection of images, videos and audio files