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| − | {{citations}}
| + | <noinclude><translate><!--T:1--> |
| − | | + | </noinclude> |
| − | {{Taxobox | + | {{species id |
| − | | name = Lemon shark | + | |common_name=Lemon Shark |
| − | | status = LR/nt | status_system = IUCN2.3 | + | |latin_name=Negaprion brevirostris |
| − | | trend = unknown | + | |image=Lemonshark (2).jpg |
| − | | image = Lemon shark.png
| + | |description= |
| − | | image_width = 200px
| + | The lemon shark commonly attains a length of 2.4 to 3.1 meters and a weight of up to 90kg at adulthood. The maximum recorded length and weight is 3.43m and 183.7kg. This stocky, powerful shark is named for the 'citrus glands' located between its two dorsal fins. This gland allows the shark to exude a lemon-esque scent in order to attract its prey. The lemon shark has pale yellow-brown to grey skin, which lacks any distinctive markings. This provides perfect camouflage when swimming over the sandy seafloor in its coastal habitat. It has a flattened head with a short, broad snout, and the second dorsal fin is almost as large as the first. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMN1HcdU9Zg Good video on Lemon and Tiger Sharks] |
| − | | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| + | |range= |
| − | | phylum = [[Chordata]]
| + | The lemon shark is found mainly along the subtropical and tropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North and South America, and around Pacific islands. They inhabit mostly tropical waters, stay at moderate depths, and are often accompanied by remoras. |
| − | | classis = [[Chondrichthyes]] | |
| − | | 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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| | }} | | }} |
| − | {{Sharksportal}}
| + | <noinclude></translate></noinclude> |
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| − | The '''lemon shark''', ''Negaprion brevirostris'', is a [[shark]] belonging to the family [[Carcharhinidae]] that can grow {{convert|10|ft|m}} long (3 m)<ref><http://www.sharksurvivor.com/sharks/lemonshark.htm></ref>.
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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 {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}}. 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 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 cm and 183 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 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 the wild, 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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| − | ==The magnetic field==
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| − | All sharks have electroreceptors concentrated in their heads called the [[Ampullae of Lorenzini]]. These receptors detect electrical pulses emitted by potential prey. Lemon sharks however have very poor eyesight. The cannot see well to find their food, and they are bottom dwellers, but make up for this by having extremely good magnetic sensors in the nose.
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | * [[List of sharks]]
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| − | ==References==
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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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| − | [[Category:Viviparous fish]]
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| − | [[Category:Carcharhinidae]]
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| − | | |
| − | [[ca:Tauró llimona]]
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| − | [[de:Zitronenhai]]
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| − | [[fr:Requin citron]]
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| − | [[it:Negaprion brevirostris]]
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| − | [[hu:Citromcápa]]
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| − | [[nl:Citroenhaai]]
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| − | [[no:Sitronhai]]
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| − | [[pt:Tubarão-limão]]
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| − | [[ru:Лимонная акула]]
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| − | [[sk:Žralok citrónový]]
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| − | [[fi:Sitruunahai]]
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| − | [[sv:Citronhaj]]
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