Lemon shark
📖 Overview
Occurs on continental and insular shelves, frequenting mangrove fringes, coral keys, docks, sand or coral mud bottoms, saline creeks, enclosed bays or sounds, and river mouths. May enter fresh water. Occasionally moves into the open ocean, near or at the surface, apparently for purposes of migration. May rest motionless on the bottom . May occur singly or in small groups. Feeds mainly on fish but also takes crustaceans and mollusks. Viviparous, with 4 to 17 young in a litter. Size at birth 60 to 65 cm. Has been involved in several attacks on people. Meat is utilized for human consumption, hides for leather, fins for shark-fin soup base, liver oil for vitamins, and carcasses for fish meal. Marketed fresh, dried-salted and frozen .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
A brownish shark with yellow overtones but no conspicuous markings. Large second dorsal fin nearly same size as first dorsal .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Lemon shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Distinct pairing with embrace . Viviparous, placental , with 5 to 17 embryos . Both male and female during precopulatory and courtship swim with body axes in parallel . During copulation, the pair performs coordinated swimming .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 92 m . Subtropical; 45°N - 33°S, 114°W - 14°E Northeast Atlantic: Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and probably wide-ranging off West Africa, but this requires confirmation.
🌿 Ecology
fish but also takes crustaceans and mollusks
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Lemon shark is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 145 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Lemon shark has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Lemon shark |
| 🏳️Catalan | Tauró llimona |
| 🌍CES | žralok citronový |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig citronhaj |
| 🇩🇪German | Atlantischer Zitronenhai · Kurznasenhai · Zitronenhai |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | sitruunahai |
| 🇫🇷French | Requin citron · Requin citron, Requin limon · Requin-citron |
| 🌍HEB | כריש לימוני |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | citromcápa |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Negaprion brevirostris · Squalo limone |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ニシレモンザメ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Citroenhaai |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Sitronhai |
| 🇵🇱Polish | żarłacz żółty |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tubarão-limão |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Лимонная акула |
| 🌍SLK | žralok citrónový |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | galano de ley · Tiburón amarillo · tiburón limón |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Citronhaj |
| 🌍TUR | Limon köpek balığı |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apriondon brevirostris | Ben-Tuvia | 1963 | Synonym |
| Carcharias fronto | Jordan & Gilbert | 1882 | Heterotypic |
| Hypoprion brevirostris | Poey | 1868 | Synonym |
| Negaprion fronto | Jordan & Gilbert | 1882 | Heterotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 43 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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