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Leopard sharks belong to the family, triakidae, which are hound sharks. The biome in which they live is called the marine biome. This species is found on the Pacific Coast of North America. They are distinctively marked with dark brown spots on a silvery gray background. Also, they have many small, sharp teeth equipped with points long enough to puncture the skin. The leopard shark is a very slim animal with a narrow head. Its reproduction is ovoviviparous (producing eggs that develop within the body and hatch within or immediately after extrusion from the parent) with up to 30 pups per litter. It may grow up to 6 feet, but it does range from being 3 to 6 feet long. |
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At the Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, NY, we observed this particular shark. It blends in very well with its surroundings. The shark did not have very much room in which to move, so it swam around in circles. Quite often, it would come up to the glass bottom side up. |
The leopard shark lives on the Pacific Coast, hiding in coral. It likes to live around coral because it gives it protection and there is a good food source. When the shark dies, its body forms more coral for other generations. The body provides food for many creatures. |
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The leopard sharks adapt to their environment by their skin color. They use their skin to hide in coral and rocks. Their skin blends in with their environment as camouflage. Migrating is another adaptation for the sharks on the Pacific Coast. They migrate from the coast of California to the northern bays.
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This shark is hunted for its sweet meat and it is a good trophy. This is the main reason that they hide in the coral reefs. When they are caught, their young learn to do everything on their own.. This happens to most of these shark families. |
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"Leopard Shark." Encyclopedia Americana. 1993 ed.. McCormick, Harold W. Shadows in the Sea. New York: Baker and Taylor Co., 1994. Sevens, John (ed.) Sharks. New York: Intercontinental Publishing Corporation Limited, 1987. Swanson, Charles. "Leopard Shark." The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1986 ed. |