Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata)
Graceful and patterned like sunlight through kelp, the leopard shark glides close to the seafloor in calm coastal shallows. It moves in small groups along California’s coastline — peaceful, elegant, and entirely at ease in the rhythm of the tide.
Scientific Snapshot
Scientific Name: Triakis semifasciata
Common Names: Leopard shark
Average Size: Typically 1.2 to 1.5 meters (4–5 feet)
Habitat: Shallow sandy bays, estuaries, and kelp forests along the Pacific coast of North America
Diet: Crustaceans, worms, clams, and small fish
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Range: Eastern Pacific — from Oregon to the Gulf of California
From the Field
The story…