LEOPARD SHARKS
Leopard sharks are not found all over the world. They are mostly
found off the pacific coasts of North America. They are also
located in tropical
waters around the indo-west pacific. This includes areas around western
Australia and the central coast of New South Wales. These sharks migrate
every year, from the coast of California, up o the bays of northern
Oregon. The leopard shark is also known as the zebra shark and
can be found on
sandy bottoms in coastal water. They live in coral, because it gives
them
some protection. It also provides many sources of food. When leopard
sharks die, they decompose and fall onto of coral and forms new coral.
Leopard
sharks belong to the “Triakidae” family. They are known as
“pavement-toothed”, which means that they have many small
and sharp teeth. Their teeth have long points, which are sharp enough
to break trough a wetsuit, but there have been no reports of anyone
being bitten. They have five-gill slits and strong ridges on top of their
backs;
they are very slender fish and have narrow heads, they can vary from
3ft.
to 6ft. long.
The leopard shark has very good eyesight and a kee n sense of smell, finding
food is easy for the shark, because it can sense any electric impulse
that are given off by any other living thing. The oldest Leopard shark
on record was twenty-five years old when it died. The easiest way to identify
a leopard shark is to look for the brown spots on a silvery background,
on the sides and back. They use their skin to camouflage themselves, so
they can hunt easier.
The way leopard sharks reproduce is very interesting, they eggs are
produced inside the mothers body, and stay there until they are
hatched, When
they
leave the mothers body they are fully ready to take care of themselves.
A usual litter of “pups” is between four and twenty-nine.
Leopard sharks are not endangered and are very abundant. Most people
hunt
the sharks, for their sweet eat, they also make great trophy pieces.
