Leopard shark
Triakis semifasciata
Size, compared with you
You: 1.7 m. Leopard shark: 2.0 m.
Person-sized. Grows up to about 2.0 m.
A slim, spotted shark of the North American Pacific coast. It is a common sight in shallow bays and estuaries, and it is harmless to people.
The weird bit
Female leopard sharks gather in warm, shallow bays in summer. The warmth may help them and their young grow faster.
Quick facts
- Where it lives
- Coast and shallows, Rivers and estuaries, Coral reef0 to 156 m down
- What it eats
- Crabs, shrimp, clams, fish eggs and small bony fish
- How worried are we?
- Doing okay (Least Concern)Assessed in 2014 by the IUCN Red List.