CarcharhiniformesAttack Relevant

Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

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Max Length

3.4m

Litter Size

4 to 19 pups

Overview

Named for its yellowish-brown coloring, providing camouflage over sandy seafloors. Common in shallow subtropical Atlantic waters. One of the most-studied sharks in both captivity and the field, used extensively in behavioral research.

Habitat

Inshore species that may enter fresh water.

Distribution

Western Atlantic & Caribbean

Western Atlantic from New Jersey to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Eastern North Atlantic including Senegal and Ivory Coast. Eastern Pacific from southern Baja to Ecuador.

Behavior

The shark is nocturnal; it is active at night close inshore: around docks, saltwater creeks, estuaries, bays and inlets.

Human Safety

This species has been involved in unprovoked incidents in South Carolina, Florida and Texas. It may become very aggressive toward divers if molested.

Biology

Diet: Bony fishes, rays, small sharks, crustaceans, mollusks and sea birds.
Reproduction: Viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta
Birth Size: 65cm
Male Maturity: 2.24m

Appearance

Dorsal: Dark brown, olive or pale yellowish-brown above; yellowish below.

Dentition

Upper jaw: Teeth in upper jaw have narrow triangular smooth-edged cusps and broad finely-serrated bases.
Lower jaw: jaw teeth have narrow erect smooth-edged cusps.

Sources:sharksorg

Recorded incidents involving the lemon shark

Recorded

Fatal

Fatality rate

2.0%

Years

1933–2025

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the lemon shark?

50 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the lemon shark, of which 1 were fatal (2.0%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.

Where do most lemon shark incidents occur?

The countries with the most recorded lemon shark incidents are United States, Bahamas, Australia.

Is the lemon shark dangerous to humans?

The lemon shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.

Where does this species data come from?

Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.

Back to species

CarcharhiniformesAttack Relevant

Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

Back to species

Max Length

3.4m

Litter Size

4 to 19 pups

Overview

Habitat

Inshore species that may enter fresh water.

Distribution

Western Atlantic & Caribbean

Behavior

The shark is nocturnal; it is active at night close inshore: around docks, saltwater creeks, estuaries, bays and inlets.

Human Safety

This species has been involved in unprovoked incidents in South Carolina, Florida and Texas. It may become very aggressive toward divers if molested.

Biology

Diet: Bony fishes, rays, small sharks, crustaceans, mollusks and sea birds.
Reproduction: Viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta
Birth Size: 65cm
Male Maturity: 2.24m

Appearance

Dorsal: Dark brown, olive or pale yellowish-brown above; yellowish below.

Dentition

Upper jaw: Teeth in upper jaw have narrow triangular smooth-edged cusps and broad finely-serrated bases.
Lower jaw: jaw teeth have narrow erect smooth-edged cusps.

Sources:sharksorg

Recorded incidents involving the lemon shark

Recorded

Fatal

Fatality rate

2.0%

Years

1933–2025

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the lemon shark?

Where do most lemon shark incidents occur?

The countries with the most recorded lemon shark incidents are United States, Bahamas, Australia.

Is the lemon shark dangerous to humans?

The lemon shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.

Where does this species data come from?

Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.

Back to species