Triakis semifasciata

Girard, 1855


Leopard shark
Classification: Elasmobranchii Carcharhiniformes Triakidae

Reference of the original description
Girard, C.F. (1855)
Characteristics of some cartilaginous fishes of the Pacific coast of North America. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 7, 196–197

Image of the original description
No image in first description.

Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Mustelus felis, Triacis semifasciata, Triacis semifasciatus, Triakis californica, Triakis cf. semifasciata, Triakis felis, Triakis semifasciatum, Triakis semifasciatus, Triakis (Triakis) semifasciata

Types
Triakis semifasciata
Syntype: USNM: 988;
Mustelus felis
XXXX: No types known;


Description :


Citation: Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 10/2025

Please send your images of "Triakis semifasciata" to info@shark-references.com

Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855, ERB 1244, male, 124, 0 cm TL, California, USA © Frederik H. Mollen (Elasmobranch Research Belgium)
Common names
deu \(T\) Leopardhai, spa Tiburón leopardo, spa Tollo leopardo, fra \(T\) Virli léopard, eng Leopard shark, por Tubarão-leopardo

Short Description
Original diagnosis after Compagno, 1984 [517]: Field Marks: The bold, saddled black colour pattern of this shark is unique.
Diagnostic Features: Strong cusps and cusplets on almost all teeth, teeth not semimolariform, lateroposterior ones bladelike, with strongly oblique cusps. First dorsal fin with posteroventrally sloping posterior margin; pectoral fins broadly triangular in adults. Total vertebral counts 129 to 150. Colour grey or bronzy-grey above, white below, with bold, large, broad black saddle-marks, becoming light-centred in adults, and scattered large black spots.

Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Oregon, USA to the Gulf of California. Source: www.gbif.org

Human uses
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Biology
Females produce 6-24 young, which are 20-23 cm long at birth (Ref. 43439). Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk [733].

Size / Weight / Age
198 cm TL (male/unsexed; [517]); 180 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 18.4 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 30 years (Ref. 6145)

Habitat
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range ? - 91 m (Ref. 9253), usually ? - 6 m (Ref. 55312)

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=7252;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Myxosporea
Cestoda
  • Dollfusiella litocephala (Heinz & Dailey, 1974) Beveridge, Neifar & Euzet, 2004 [16323]
  • Dollfusiella litocephalus (Heinz & Dailey, 1974) Beveridge, Neifar & Euzet, 2004 [16112] [23771]
  • Lacistorhynchus dollfusi Beveridge & Sakanari, 1987 [16253] [13650] [16112]
  • Lacistorhynchus tenuis (Van Beneden, 1858) [23382] [23386]
  • Nybelinia anthicosum Heinz & Dailey, 1974 [16323] [16112]
  • Orygmatobothrium musteli (Van Beneden, 1850) [16383]
  • Phyllobothrium lactuca Van Beneden, 1850 [16383] [16443]
  • Phyllobothrium riseri Ruhnke, 1996 [14629]
  • Rockacestus radioductus (Kay, 1942) [16443]
  • Scyphophyllidium barberi (Ruhnke, 1994) [16387]

Copepoda
Isopoda
  • Nerocila acuminata Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 [17080]
  • Nerocila californica Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 [23898]

Hirudinea
  • Branchellion lobata Moore, 1952 [23244]


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