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Leopard Shark, Triakis semifasciata.
One of the most popular animals at MSI is the leopard shark. We keep 8 or 9 baby leopard sharks in our aquarium at a time. We catch the sharks when we take our 90 foot research vessel out on the San Francisco Bay. The leopard shark is a beautiful animal covered with dark saddles and splotches. The top of the animal varies in color from silver to a bronzed gray. Leopard sharks are most commonly found in shallow bays and estuaries but sometimes live in the kelp forest, usually staying near the bottom.
Leopard sharks love to eat benthic invertebrates like mussels, clams, crabs, and worms. Male leopard sharks can grow to be 5 to 6 feet long while the females can grow to be 6 to 7 feet long! These sharks are very gentle creatures and both kids and adults love getting the chance to touch the sharks when they come to visit MSI!