Leopard Shark

Triakis semifasciata

Last updated: November 19, 2024
Verified Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
David A Litman/Shutterstock.com

Leopard Sharks have teeth with three points.


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Leopard Shark Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Chondrichthyes
Order
Carcharhiniforme
Family
Triakidae
Genus
Triakis
Scientific Name
Triakis semifasciata

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Leopard Shark Conservation Status

Leopard Shark Locations

Leopard Shark Locations

Leopard Shark Facts

Prey
Crabs, Clams, Fish Eggs
Name Of Young
Pups
Group Behavior
  • Mainly solitary
Fun Fact
Leopard Sharks have teeth with three points.
Biggest Threat
Reduction of habitat
Most Distinctive Feature
Banded back
Gestation Period
10-12 months
Litter Size
4-37 pups
Habitat
Ocean
Predators
Larger sharks
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
20
Lifestyle
  • Nocturnal
Favorite Food
Crabs and Clams
Number Of Species
1
Location
Eastern Pacific Ocean

Leopard Shark Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Black
  • White
  • Tan
Skin Type
Scales
Weight
20-40 pounds
Length
4–5 feet
Age of Sexual Maturity
Male 7-13 years/Female 10-15 years
Venomous
No
Aggression
Low

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Leopard sharks are medium-sized fish that live in the Pacific Ocean. They are harmless to humans and popular in aquariums due to their interesting patterns.

Leopard shark

Leopard sharks can live up to 30 years.

Appearance

The most recognizable feature of the leopard shark is the banded pattern on its back. These sharks have white underbellies, gray bodies, and black or dark brown bands, with lighter-colored markings in the center. Dark circular spots dot their backs in between the bands. They have translucent eyelids, called nictitating membranes, that protect their eyes while allowing vision

Leopard sharks weigh 20 pounds on average and measure between 4 and 5 feet long, and they have short, compact bodies. Females are larger than males, often by up to a foot in length. The largest leopard shark on record weighed just over 40 pounds.

Leopard sharks have two dorsal fins that are about the same size and one anal fin that is much smaller. These fins help them move through the water. Leopard sharks swim near the ocean floor to easily find food. They have three-pointed teeth, which have a smooth-edge pointed cusp in the center and two smaller cusps on each side.

Leopard sharks have three-pointed teeth.

Distribution and Habitat

Leopard sharks live off the West Coast of the United States and Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. They like to explore inlets, making them easy to spot and study. They like to swim near the ocean floor, where they find their food. Many fish have air sacs to maintain buoyancy, which means that they float when they are not swimming. Leopard sharks do not have air sacs, though, so they sink when they aren’t swimming.

Leopard Shark swimming in kelp bed

Leopard sharks live in the Pacific Ocean and can be found off the coasts of Mexico and the western United States.

Predators and Prey

Leopard sharks’ mouths open downward, bringing up food from the ocean floor. They suck up crabs, clams, shrimp, and fish eggs like a vacuum. As they grow, they move on to larger fish, other sharks, and even octopuses.

Other fish and sharks do not generally eat leopard sharks. Instead, their risk for survival comes from their dwindling habitat. They are also occasionally caught for their fins or by large-scale fishing operations.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is a species of carpet shark and is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific.

A mother leopard shark gives birth to an average of 20 live young. Her babies are called pups.

Leopard sharks give birth to live babies, called pups. The eggs hatch inside the mother, and she gives birth to an average of 20 pups at a time. They are around 8 or 9 inches long when they’re born.

It takes around 10 years for a female leopard shark to reach breeding age. Researchers take special interest in pregnant female leopard sharks and their habits to help with conservation efforts.

The Leopard shark is an active fish that swims with an undulating motion.

The average size of a leopard shark is 4-5 feet long and weighs around 20 pounds.

Population

Leopard sharks are listed as least concern by the IUCN. They have protected waters to live in and are not hunted regularly by humans. They are occasionally caught and eaten, but they contain high levels of mercury due to their long lifespans, making them less than ideal for human consumption.

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About the Author

Abby Parks

Abby Parks has authored a fiction novel, theatrical plays, short stories, poems, and song lyrics. She's recorded two albums of her original songs, and is a multi-instrumentalist. She has managed a website for folk music and written articles on singer-songwriters, folk bands, and other things music-oriented. She's also a radio DJ for a folk music show. As well as having been a pet parent to rabbits, birds, dogs, and cats, Abby loves seeking sightings of animals in the wild and has witnessed some more exotic ones such as Puffins in the Farne Islands, Southern Pudu on the island of Chiloe (Chile), Penguins in the wild, and countless wild animals in the Rocky Mountains (Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Moose, Elk, Marmots, Beavers).

Leopard Shark FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is Leopard Shark a good fish to eat?

While you can eat Leopard Shark, you should do so sparingly due to the high mercury content in the fish.

What does Leopard Shark taste like?

Leopard Shark is a firm, white fish that can be seasoned and panfried or grilled.

Is a Leopard Shark a freshwater or saltwater fish?

Leopard Sharks live in saltwater in the Pacific Ocean, off the West Coast of North America from Oregon to the Gulf of California, Mexico.

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Sources

  1. San Diego Zoo / Accessed June 17, 2022
  2. UCSD / Accessed June 17, 2022
  3. Monterey Bay Aquarium / Accessed June 17, 2022