Leopard shark
Conservation status
Conservation Dependent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Triakidae Genus: Triakis Species: T. semifasciata
Binomial name
Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855

Sharks Portal

The leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is a hound shark found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of North America from Oregon to Baja California. This species is sometimes called the leopard shark, a name otherwise used for Triakis semifasciata. ... For other uses, see Tiger shark (disambiguation). ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... Conservation Dependent (LR/cd) was an IUCN category assigned to species or lower taxa which were dependent on conservation efforts to prevent the taxon becoming threatened with extinction. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses and Orders See text. ... Superorders Batoidea (rays and skates) Selachimorpha (sharks) Elasmobranchii is the subclass of cartilaginous fish that includes skates, rays (batoidea) and sharks (selachii). ... Families See text. ... Genera See text Hound sharks are a family, Triakidae, of ground sharks, consisting of about 40 species in 9 genera. ... Species See text. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Charles Frédéric Girard (March 8, 1822 - January 29, 1895) was a French biologist specializing on ichthyology and herpetology. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Greyreefsharksmall2. ... North American redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Location within Mexico Municipalities of Baja California Country Capital Municipalities 5 Largest City Tijuana Government  - Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán (PAN)  - Federal Deputies PAN: 8  - Federal Senators Alejandro González (PAN) Rafael Díaz (PAN) Fernando Castro (PRI) Area Ranked 12th  - Total 69,921 km² (26,996. ...

The species can grow up to 7 ft (2 m) in length, with a long, slender body and head. The distinctive markings that give the species its common name provide camouflage against dappled ground. Leopard sharks are bottom feeders, eating worms, mollusks, crustaceans, octopuses, and small fish. A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora Monoplacophora Bivalvia Scaphopoda Gastropoda Cephalopoda † Rostroconchia The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar creatures well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ... For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation). ...

Leopard sharks migrate seasonally. Their reproduction is aplacental viviparity (no yolk-sack placenta); the 4 to 29 pups per litter gestate within the body of the female and are born live. Gestation is estimated at 10 to 12 months. A viviparous animal is an animal employing vivipary, a method of reproduction in which the embryo develops inside the body of the mother from which it gains nourishment, and not from an egg. ...

The sharks hunt in groups, sometimes with smooth-hound sharks. The species is actively sought by sport fishermen in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Monterey Bay for its tender, flavorful flesh. Conservationists are concerned with sport fishing of the species, which, like most sharks, reproduces slowly. Species See text. ... Bay Area redirects here. ... A view of Monterey Bay Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of California, south of San Francisco. ...

Habitat

Leopard sharks are found in rocky areas, rocky reefs, kelp beds, sandy areas and under piers. Leopard sharks swim at depths of 10 to 250 ft. They prefer cold to warm water. They are often seen at large shoals but when breeding can be solitary. A reef surrounding an islet. ... Families Alariaceae Chordaceae Laminariaceae Lessoniaceae Phyllariaceae Pseudochordaceae Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... For architectural piers, see Pier (architecture). ... A shoal is a sandbank or bar creating a shallow. ...

their population is less than 1%, there is only 1 leopard shark left.

Range

Leopard sharks range from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Oregon. Tagging has revealed that stock is mostly resident in San Francisco Bay. However, about 10 percent of the population moves into the ocean seasonally,they are potentially threatened by overfishing. there numbers are still strong enough at the moment to not classify them as either endangered or threatened. one male tagged in San Francisco Bay was recaptured in Santa Monica Bay 10 years later. Mixing between regional stocks is thought to be limited. Mazatlán is a city (population 340,000 as of 2000) located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, just across from the southernmost tip of Baja California. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Santa Monica Bay is an arm of the Pacific Ocean in southern California. ...

Gallery

A leopard shark swimming in a kelp forest.

Top view of a leopard shark resting in shallow water.

Leopard shark, Monterey, California

Leopard shark, Ko Phi Phi Ley, Thailand.

References

• Smith (2000). Triakis semifasciata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is dependent on conservation
• Triakis semifasciata (TSN 160448). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 04 March 2006.
• "Triakis semifasciata". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Nov 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
• Ebert, David, Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of California, University of California Press, 2003
• Smith, Susan California Marine Living Resources: A Status Report (Leopard Shark), California Department of game and fish, 2001

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... FishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish. ... University of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. ...

External links

• Biological Profile, Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department