# Lemon Shark (*Negaprion brevirostris*)

> The lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) is a yellow-tinted coastal shark of tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific mangroves. Adults reach 3 m and 180 kg, form social groups, and are listed Vulnerable.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Tropical western Atlantic and eastern Pacific coastal waters.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lemon-shark/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Chondrichthyes
- **Order:** Carcharhiniformes
- **Family:** Carcharhinidae
- **Genus:** Negaprion

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Negaprion brevirostris |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Mangroves, reefs, and lagoons |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years |
| Weight | 80–180 kg |
| Top speed | up to 35 km/h |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Social coastal navigator

Lemon sharks use magnetic fields and learned routes between mangrove nurseries and reef edges. Pale yellow sides camouflage against sandy bottoms.

## Fish, crustaceans, and rays

Young sharks eat small fish and crustaceans in shallows; adults take larger fish and stingrays. Pups stay years in protected lagoons.

## Western Atlantic and eastern Pacific

Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, and West African coasts plus Pacific Mexico and Ecuador mangroves. Nursery fidelity makes local populations vulnerable.

## Vulnerable to coastal fishing

IUCN lists lemon shark Vulnerable. Slow growth and site fidelity expose them to gillnets, fin trade, and mangrove loss.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is it called a lemon shark?

Pale yellow-brown colouring on the sides resembles a lemon in clear coastal water.

### Do lemon sharks live in groups?

Yes — they form loose social groups and show learned migration routes between nurseries.

### Are lemon sharks dangerous to swimmers?

Bites are rare; they are coastal and curious but not a primary human attacker.

### Where do lemon shark pups grow up?

In mangrove and lagoon nurseries with shallow, predator-reduced water.

### Why is the lemon shark Vulnerable?

Coastal fishing, finning, and mangrove destruction hit slow-reproducing nursery populations.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lemon-shark/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.