Leopard shark pups usually skim the sandy ocean bottom and pick up the clams, sand crabs, innkeeper warms, and fish eggs. That is why its mouth is located on the underside of its head and opens downward. A typical leopard shark diet consists of invertebrates and small fish and can include the following:Īs a ground shark, a leopard shark usually feeds on the seafloor. Surprisingly, females are larger than males. The average age of a leopard shark caught by fishermen is 7 years, while the average length is 3 feet. However, there are also small baby leopard sharks that are only 7 to 8 inches long and fully grown, and extra-big ones that are as much as 6 feet long.Ī leopard shark takes quite some time to grow to its full potential. How Big Is A Leopard Shark?īased on the information published on the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance website, a typical leopard shark is about 3 to 7 feet long and 3.5 to 4 pounds heavy. Yet, even though these fish look alike, they are not the same species. They feature tapered tails, sturdy, triangular pectoral fins, and two distinctive dorsal fins on their back, too.Ī leopard shark is often confused with a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) or a zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum). Leopard sharks have long, slim bodies, pavement-toothed jaws, and short, round snouts. The younger the shark is, the more intense its colors are. It is a silvery grey fish with black spots resembling those of a leopard – that is how it got its name in the first place. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, a leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is a member of the ground or carpet shark family (Carcharhiniformes).
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