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Animal Guide

Leopard Shark

32 destinations · 17 states

Native Range
Northeastern Pacific Ocean

The leopard shark is a great example of how much there is to notice in an aquarium when you slow down and watch the fish rather than simply glance at the tank. Its slender body is covered in dark spots and saddle-like markings that give the shark its name, while its pointed snout and long tail create a very different silhouette from the bulky sharks many people picture. Look near the bottom of the exhibit and you may see leopard sharks cruising steadily over the sand, sometimes weaving around rocks or other animals without much fuss. They are generally calm, bottom-oriented swimmers and often move in loose groups, which can make a large aquarium display especially interesting to watch. Their patterned backs also make sense in the shallow coastal habitats they favor, where sunlight and shadows break up their outline against the seafloor. The next time one glides past the glass, notice how smoothly it moves. There is almost no wasted motion as the tail keeps the shark moving forward.

Leopard Shark

Where to see Leopard Shark

32 destinations across 17 states

32 destinations

Aquarium At The Boardwalk

Branson, MO

Aquarium of Boise

Boise, ID

Aquarium of the Bay

San Francisco, CA

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, CA

Birch Aquarium

La Jolla, CA

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

San Pedro, CA

California Science Center

Los Angeles, CA

Central Coast Aquarium

Avila Beach, CA

Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den

Scranton, PA

Heal the Bay Aquarium

Santa Monica, CA

Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

John Ball Zoo

Grand Rapids, MI

Living Coast Discovery Center

Chula Vista, CA

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey, CA

Moody Gardens

Galveston, TX

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

Ocean World

Crescent City, CA

Oklahoma Aquarium

Jenks, OK

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport, OR

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg, TN

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Columbia, SC

San Antonio Aquarium

Leon Valley, TX

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Carlsbad, CA

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

Grapevine, TX

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

VIA Aquarium

Schenectady, NY

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