Sicklefin Lemon Shark
Scientific name............Negaprion Acutidens
Other common names...........Pacific lemon shark, sharptooth lemon
The Sicklefin lemon shark is a big stocky yellowish shark, their
second dorsal fin is about as large as the first. Broad, blunt
snout. The dorsal, pectorals, and pelvic fins are falcate.
This shark can reach a maximum length of 10.4 feet. The males mature
at 7.9 feet.
They have narrow, smooth-cusped teeth in both jaws.
There overall color is a yellowish to a yellowish-brown.
This species feeds mostly on bony fishes and stingrays.
Sicklefin lemon sharks are a sluggish, swimming slowly near or
resting on the bottom. May surface when stimulated by food, but shy
and reluctant to approach divers. Young sharks are more inquisitive.
Tropical Indo-west and central Pacific. They are found inshore on or
near bottom, from a depth range, surface to 98.4 feet. Prefers
turbid, still water in bays, estuaries, sandy plateaus, outer reef
shelves and reef lagoons. Young sharks found on very shallow reef
flats, dorsal fins exposed.
These sharks are viviparous, giving birth to 1 to 13 pups per litter
after ten months of a gestation period.
Potentially harmful, can be aggressive when provoked.
Vulnerable, heavily fished outside Australia throughout range. Hardy
in captivity. Valuable for dive tourism.