Sicklefin lemon shark
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| Sicklefin lemon shark | ||||||||||||||||
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| Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell, 1837) |
The sicklefin lemon shark, Negaprion acutidens, is a shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific oceans and the Red Sea between latitudes 30° N and 30° S, from the surface to 100 m. Its length is up to about 3.8 m.
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[edit] Distribution and habitat
It is found on continental and insular shelves and terraces, being common on coral reefs and in shallow, sandy lagoons and turbid, mangrove swamps.
[edit] Anatomy and appearance
The sicklefin lemon shark is a large, stocky, yellowish shark with a broad, blunt snout, narrow, smooth-cusped teeth in both jaws, and equal-sized dorsal fins.
Coloration is yellowish brown above, paler below.
[edit] Diet
It feeds on smaller sharks, stingrays and on benthic bony fishes. It is dangerous if provoked.
[edit] Reproduction
It is viviparous, with 1 to 11 pups born per litter, each measuring about 45 cm.
[edit] Relationship to humans
The meat is utilized fresh and dried salted for human consumption, the fins for shark-fin soup base, and the liver oil is used for vitamins.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Negaprion acutidens". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Hennemann RM. Sharks & Rays: Elasmobranch Guide of the World. IKAN-Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt, Germany 2001;162-163
