Leopard Shark

ID points

• A row of black saddle patches along the back, mixed with round spots
• Slender body with a short, blunt snout
• Often cruises slowly in groups just above the sandy bottom

Basics

Family

Triakidae

Length

120–180 cm

Depth

0-90 m

Regions

Temperate & polar

Distribution

Temperate coastal waters of the eastern Pacific

Habitat

Sandy bays and kelp beds

Diet

Crustaceans, bottom-dwelling fish

Easily confused with

BarracudaLong spear-like body with a bright silvery sheenBlacktip Reef SharkEvery fin tip carries a bold black blotchCobiaA dark brown stripe edged in white along the flank

Fun fact

The true leopard shark is covered in bold dark brown blotches and saddle markings that really do look like a leopard. It is a very placid animal, usually found over shallow sand or along the bottom of kelp forests, feeding mainly on invertebrates that live in the seabed. It is a completely different species from the Indo-Pacific zebra shark, which is often called a leopard shark by mistake.