Name: Leopard shark, cat shark
Scientific Name: Triakis semifasciata (Girard, 1855)
Family: Triakidae
Group: Sharks, rays and chimaeras
Class: Fish
Size: 101-200 cm.
The leopard shark forms large shoals, which during the flooding tide enter protected bays to feed on bottom-dwelling animals. During the ebbing tide, they return to waters further out to sea. Here, it is common to find large groups of 100 to 200 sharks, which remain inactive and literally piled up on the sea floor. Like other sharks, this species is particularly sensitive to intensive fishing, given that it grows slowly and only begins to reproduce very late (from 10 years of age). Its fertilisation is internal and females give birth to between 3 and 26 juveniles.
Photo by:
Abílio Leitão
Temperate Pacific
