Order: Carcharhiniformes
Scientific name: Negaprion brevirostris

According to the International Shark Attack File, lemon sharks attacked a total of 21 times between 1990 and 1997. Nine of these incidents were listed as unprovoked attacks, seven as provoked attacks, and five as attacks on boats. Contrary to these fearful sounding statistics, the animal has never been fingered in a fatal assault and is considered relatively harmless unless agitated.

One of 39 shark species protected by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the lemon shark is easily distinguished by its two large dorsal fins and long pectoral fins. This sleek and keen-eyed predator has a broad head and pale yellow-brown skin, and can grow to a length of 11 feet (3.4 m) .

Although most active around twilight and dawn, lemon sharks hunt throughout the day, feeding mainly on an assortment of rays, reef fishes and crustaceans. They seem to prefer reefs with mangrove and sea grass habitats. In these protectied areas, females will give birth to as many as 17 live young, 2 feet (0.6 m) in length. Lemon sharks are most common along the coasts of Latin America and the Caribbean. However, owing to the animal's large migratory range, it has been spotted as far north as New Jersey and as far south as the southern end of Brazil.