Leopard Shark

Leopard sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) are the most abundant shark species located in San Francisco Bay. Much smaller than their Great White counterparts, leopard sharks on average only grow to about five feet in length. Key predators in their ecosystem, leopard sharks have smooth, flat teeth perfectly suited for crushing the shells of oysters and other invertebrates with tough exteriors. These sharks are often thought of as primary predators, preying upon smaller herbivores that would decimate the primary productivity of algae and other aquatic plants if left unchecked. Leopards are especially active from March through November when schools of herring congregate in the bay at depths from 30 to over 40 feet. As the most abundant shark species and a key predator in San Fransisco Bay, a rapid decline in leopard shark population size in 2017 did not go unnoticed by scientists and civilians alike. Thousands of sharks died off in only a couple of months and large numbers of deceased sharks washed ashore daily. It did not take scientists long to discover the cause: a brain infecting parasites. That discovery enabled rapid mitigation, before the parasite could do lasting damage to local leopard shark populations, and they remain key predators of the San Francisco Bay today. That's good news for sea lions and seven gill sharks, which predate on leopard sharks.