Leopard Shark

During the spring and summer leopard sharks live in bays and estuaries. Then during the winter they often move out of the bays to coastal waters as salinity and temperature decrease. Their movements are strongly influenced by the tidal cycle. They swim with tidal currents to reduce using energy associated with swimming. During incoming tides they move into shallow mudflats to forage and then as the tide goes out they retreat to deeper water. They are often found in groups and swim together with other shark species.

A female leopard shark is usually about 10 years old when she has her first litter. After that, a female will generally mate every year. Males mature between 7 and 13 years.

Leopard sharks are viviparous. A female leopard shark keeps her eggs inside her body until they hatch. She gives birth to 7 to 36 live offspring that are each about 7 inches long.

Bays and estuaries are important nursery areas, particularly in central and northern California. Females move to shallow warm habitats, often over sand or mudflats to give birth. In central and northern California, young leopard sharks are often found in sheltered, shallow, inshore areas such as bays, mudflats, and tidal creeks.

Leopard sharks can live up to 25 to 30 years.