Species page
Leopard Shark
Calm coastal shark patterned with dark saddles and spots.
Triakis semifasciata
Least concern
Overview
This shark belongs to the houndshark family, a broad group of shelf and nearshore species with a practical coastal build. In PocketShark, expect a benthic-to-near-benthic predator rather than a flashy pelagic specialist. Houndsharks are usually slender to moderately built coastal sharks with two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and a generally understated gray-brown appearance. Houndsharks occupy temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas around the world, most often on continental shelves and in nearshore habitats.
Typical habitats include sandy bays, estuaries, rocky shelves, kelp-fringed coasts, reefs, and upper-slope margins.
A strong fit for a beginner-friendly field guide section.
Why it matters: The family includes both egg-laying and live-bearing species, which is a useful reminder that shark reproduction does not follow one simple rule.
Common nameLeopard Shark
Scientific nameTriakis semifasciata
FamilyTriakidae
OrderCarcharhiniformes
Max length1.8 m
Depth range0 to 120 meters
ConservationLeast concern
RegionEastern Pacific coast
DietCrabs, worms, fish eggs, small fish
HabitatBays, estuaries, and sandy flats
Why it stands outHigh tolerance for shallow coastal habitats
What this shark is
Houndsharks are usually slender to moderately built coastal sharks with two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and a generally understated gray-brown appearance.
Where it lives
Houndsharks occupy temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas around the world, most often on continental shelves and in nearshore habitats.
Typical habitats include sandy bays, estuaries, rocky shelves, kelp-fringed coasts, reefs, and upper-slope margins.
How it differs from similar sharks
High tolerance for shallow coastal habitats
Compare it against Triakis Acutipinna, Triakis Maculata, and Triakis Megalopterus.
Why it is notable
They are not major problem sharks for people. Fisheries pressure and nursery habitat loss are the more common concerns.
Species-level taxonomy was verified from Sharkipedia's current species list and taxonomy workbook. In this pass, the narrative fields are cautious family-level placeholders synthesized from broad shark references, chiefly the FAO Sharks of the World catalogue, because a stronger multi-source species-level synthesis was not assembled here without risking invented detail. Replace this with a direct species-level synthesis before publication in the app.
Related shark pages
These links are meant to help readers continue through related species, not force extra clicks.
Triakis Acutipinna
Shark species in Triakidae.
1.0 m max
Triakis Maculata
Shark species in Triakidae.
1.8 m max
Triakis Megalopterus
Shark species in Triakidae.
1.7 m max
ドチザメ
Shark species in Triakidae.
1.5 m max