Lemon Shark Tooth ID#111

Common Name: Lemon Shark

Scientific Name: Negaprion brevirostris

Epoch:Miocene, Pliocene

Fossil Type: Tooth

Fossil Size: 0.88 Inches 2.23 cm

Location Found: Florida

Info about Negaprion

    The Negaprion genus has two known extant species and one known extinct species (N. eurybathrodon). The negaprion genus dates back to the Eocene (56mya). Negaprion brevirostris, commonly known as the lemon shark, is one the living species which is found throughout the west coast of Africa, to the coasts around the Americas. The other extant species is Negaprion acutidens, (also known as the sicklefin lemon shark) which is found near India and south-east Asia. Both species are opportunistic apex predators and will eat just about any marine animal, but they primarily feed on fish and crustaceans. N. brevirostris has caused 10 unprovoked shark attacks, leading to 0 fatalities. While, N. acutidens has caused no known unprovoked shark attacks.

References:

Family carcharhinidae: . Carcharhinidae: Whaler Sharks. (n.d.). http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/carcharhinidae.htm

Fossil Friday 6/5/15: A lemon shark tooth. Panama Canal Project (PCP PIRE). (2025, June 4). https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/panama-pire/blog/fossil-friday-6515-a-lemon-shark-tooth/

Lemon Shark. Discover Fishes. (n.d.-a). https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/lemon-shark/

Species implicated in attacks. International Shark Attack File. (n.d.). https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/factors/species-implicated/

Visaggi, C. C., & Godfrey, S. J. (n.d.). Full article: Variation in composition and abundance of miocene shark teeth from Calvert Cliffs, Maryland. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724630903409063