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| − | {{Taxobox
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| − | | color = pink
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| − | | name = Lemon shark
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| − | | status = LR/nt
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| − | | trend = unknown
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| − | | image = Lemon shark.png
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| − | | image_width = 200px
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| − | | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| − | | phylum = [[Chordata]]
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| − | | classis = [[Chondrichthyes]]
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| − | | subclassis = [[Elasmobranchii]]
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| − | | ordo = [[Carcharhiniformes]]
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| − | | familia = [[Carcharhinidae]]
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| − | | genus = ''[[Negaprion]]''
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| − | | species = '''''N. brevirostris'''''
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| − | | binomial = ''Negaprion brevirostris''
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| − | | binomial_authority = ([[Felipe Poey|Poey]], [[1868]])
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| − | | range_map = ZitronenhaiWorld.png
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| − | | range_map_caption = Range (in blue)
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| − | }}
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| − | {{Sharksportal}}
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| − | The '''lemon shark''', ''Negaprion brevirostris'', is a [[shark]] belonging to the family [[Carcharhinidae]].
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| − | ==Distribution and habitat==
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| − | The lemon shark is found mainly along the [[subtropical]] and [[tropical]] parts of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]]. This species can be found as well in [[Pacific]] islands of [[Polynesia]] - [[French Polynesia]] - [[Tahiti]], the [[Cook Islands]], and [[Tonga]]. The longest lemon shark recorded was 12 [[foot (measurement)|ft]] long, but they are usually 8 to 10 ft. They like tropical water, and like to stay at moderate depths.
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| − | ==Reproduction==
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| − | Lemon sharks are [[viviparous]], females giving birth to between 4 and 17 young every other year in warm and shallow lagoons. The young have to fend for themselves and remain in shallow water near [[mangrove]]s until they grow larger. With increasing size, the sharks venture further away from their birth place. At maturity at a size of 1.5 to 2 [[metre|m]] and an age of 12 to 15 years, they leave shallow water and move into deeper waters offshore. However, little is known of this life stage. Maximum recorded length and weight is 340 [[centimetre|cm]] and 183 [[kilogram|kg]]. They can be extremely aggressive and protective if young sharks are around.[http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=897]
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| − | Recent work in [[genetics]] by Drs Kevin Feldheim, Sonny Gruber and Mary Ashley may suggest that adult sharks move over hundreds of [[kilometre|km]] to mate, or populations far apart may have been separated in recent time. Further research in this area would be of immense importance for the understanding of the lemon shark's breeding behaviour and ecology.
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| − | ==Importance to humans==
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| − | Lemon sharks are a popular choice for study by scientists as they survive well in captivity, unlike many other species such as the [[great white shark]], which dies in captivity because of food refusal. The species is the best known of all sharks in terms of behaviour and [[ecology]], mainly thanks to the enormous effort of Dr. Samuel Gruber at the [[University of Miami]] who has been studying the lemon shark both in the field and in the laboratory since 1967. The population around the [[Bimini Islands]] in the western [[Bahamas]], where Dr Gruber's field station, Bimini Biological Field Station, is situated, is probably the best known of all shark populations. As of 2007, it is experiencing a severe population decline and may disappear altogether due to destruction of the mangroves for construction of a golf [[resort]]. There have been 22 lemon shark attacks since 1580 with no deaths.
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | * [[List of sharks]]
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * {{IUCN2006|assessors=Gruber & Sundström|year=2000|id=39380|title=Negaprion brevirostris|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
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| − | * {{ITIS|ID=160433|taxon=Negaprion brevirostris|year=2006|date=23 January}}
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| − | * {{FishBase_species|genus=Negaprion|species=brevirostris|year=2005|month=March}}
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| − | * ''Washington Post'', 2005, Aug. 22nd: "Scientists Fear Oceans on the Cusp Of a Wave of Marine Extinctions"
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{commons|Negaprion brevirostris|Lemon shark}}
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| − | * [http://www.sharkdiving.us/lemonshark.html Lemon shark facts and pictures]
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| − | * [http://www.sharkattacksurvivors.com/ Shark Attack Survivors Shark Attack Education and Prevention]
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| − | [[Category:Sharks]]
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| − | [[Category:Viviparous fish]]
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| − | [[Category:Carcharhinidae]]
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| − | [[ca:Tauró llimona]]
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| − | [[cs:Žralok citrónový]]
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| − | [[de:Zitronenhai]]
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| − | [[fr:Requin citron]]
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| − | [[nl:Citroenhaai]]
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| − | [[no:Sitronhai]]
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| − | [[pt:Tubarão-limão]]
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| − | [[sk:Žralok citrónový]]
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| − | [[fi:Sitruunahai]]
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| − | [[sv:Citronhaj]]
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